"Outta Touch" Government Justifies New Hires for Scholz's Office
New positions justify Scholz-Office's government action
Let's cut to the chase: Olaf Scholz is bringing on eight new employees for his post-chancellorship, and it's causing quite the fuss. The government has defended this expensive move, but not everyone's buying it.
The government's spokesman, Stefan Kornelius, has spoken up in Berlin, declaring that the Ukraine war will continue to be a central focus for Scholz's office, even after he steps down as Chancellor. Chancellor Friedrich Merz supports Scholz's office's new hires, according to Kornelius.
But why the extra help? A letter from the Finance Ministry to the Bundestag Budget Committee reveals that they're proposing an additional 208 personnel positions for the current budget execution. That includes eight jobs in Scholz's Chancellor's Office. The additional support is "necessary" due to Scholz's anticipated post-chancellorship activities related to the Ukraine war, the letter says.
The Backlash
Christian Gorke, the parliamentary business manager of the Left Party, calls these offices "out of touch." He's not a fan of former chancellors having their own court for life. Gorke thinks these offices should be shut down.
And it's not just the Left Party speaking out. The Federation of Taxpayers is also rating this move a big fat 'no.' If the Budget Committee approves these plans, they're looking at the biggest federal government ever, says association president Reiner Holznagel. The new government hasn't kept its promises to reduce positions, Holznagel points out. There are more ministers and state secretaries than ever before, he says, and that ain't cheap. If these positions are well-paying, we're talking about a monthly salary of between 10,000 and 15,000 euros per position, warns Holznagel. The Budget Committee needs to pump the brakes on this expenditure.
So, what's the deal? Some say it's just/merely/purely political posturing, while others argue it's necessary for Scholz's office to handle the complex issues at hand effectively. But one thing is certain: the taxpayers are watching closely.
[1] Opposition parties like the AfD see this move as a privilege rather than a practical decision, fueling political disenchantment among voters.
[2] The broader context includes the federal government's plan to create over 200 new jobs across ministries, positioning Scholz’s additional eight positions within a larger government workforce expansion. However, critics focus their attention on the justification and optics of these increases in the former chancellor's office. Some within the Federation of Taxpayers, while keen to ensure fiscal responsibility, acknowledge the importance of providing adequate support structures in former officials’ offices to manage their post-tenure engagements effectively.
- The spending on Scholz's office, as proposed, is under scrutiny by opposition parties like the AfD, with some viewing it as a privilege rather than a practical decision, possibly exacerbating political disenchantment among voters.
- Amidst the federal government's broader plan to create over 200 new jobs across ministries, the justification and optics of Scholz’s additional eight positions within the former chancellor's office has sparked criticism, while members within the Federation of Taxpayers, despite advocating for fiscal responsibility, acknowledge the importance of providing adequate support structures in former officials' offices for effective post-tenure engagement management.
