In a scrutiny of Thuringia's governmental personnel policy, Economics Minister Wolfgang Tiefensee (SPD) has allocated a segment of the responsibility for choosing a state secretary to the State Chancellery. He selected the candidate based on professional, personal, and political grounds, Tiefensee shared in Erfurt on Monday. The State Chancellery was tasked with verifying whether the prospective State Secretary fulfilled all legal requirements for her role - not Tiefensee or his ministry.
However, the State Chancellery failed to revert back to him regarding his proposal, Tiefensee mentioned. "There were no inquiries from the State Chancellery." Upon making the decision to appoint her as his State Secretary, Tiefensee was less concerned about the legal prerequisites due to the State Chancellery's fundamental role. It's standard practice in Germany for state secretaries to be chosen and appointed in this manner.
This inquiry, initiated this summer, aims to uncover any misconduct in the state government's personnel policy. The State Court of Auditors has accused the state government of systemic and severe breaches of civil servant recruitment regulations. The state government has repeatedly denied these accusations. The focus also rested on the state secretary Tiefensee brought into his ministry in 2018.
The CDU parliamentary group requested this interrogation, with the red-red-green government factions supporting it, according to reports.
Although Tiefensee assigned the State Chancellery with validating the legal qualifications for the appointed State Secretary, no further requests or inquiries were made regarding the formal requirements for her appointment.
Source: www.dpa.com
The State Chancellery plays a significant part in the appointment of state secretaries within Germany, but it lacks the same responsibilities as individual ministers. While the State Chancellery lends administrative support to the Minister-President, individual ministers have the authority to make decisions within their spheres of influence. The actual appointment of state secretaries is typically made by the Minister-President, with the State Chancellery offering support in the selection process.
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In Germany, the State Chancellery (Staatskanzlei) serves a crucial role in appointing state secretaries by offering administrative support and assisting in the selection process. The Minister-President, however, is responsible for making the official appointment. State secretaries work closely with individual ministers to implement policies and ensure that they are coordinated and executed efficiently across various departments. Each minister, on the other hand, is responsible for managing their portfolio and developing policies within their respective ministries.
A committee of inquiry is often established to investigate allegations of corruption, misconduct, or inefficiency in the personnel management of German states, such as Thuringia. In 2019, a committee of inquiry in Thuringia was established to look into alleged corruption and misconduct within the state government. The goal was to enhance transparency, accountability, and the efficiency of its personnel management processes.
Kathrin Schneider's appointment as State Secretary in Brandenburg serves as an example of the appointment process. Schneider was appointed by the Minister-President, Dietmar Woidke, and her role involved supporting the Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Planning. The State Chancellery would have supported and coordinated the selection and appointment processes in this broader administrative structure of the Brandenburg state government.
