Dive into the controversy: SPD's quest for Wust's wishes in State Chancellery renovation
Western desires scrutinized during State Chancellery refurbishment by SPD - SPD seeks insight into Wüst's preferences for the renovation of the State Chancellery.
Here's the lowdown:
With escalating costs in the renovation of the State Chancellery in Düsseldorf, the spotlight's on Minister President Hendrik Wüst (CDU). The opposition's up in arms, demanding to know if Wüst has taken user feedback during the renovation. Moreover, they're questioning if the architect, who's currently under investigation by the public prosecutor's office, is still involved in the project.
The revamped office comes with a hefty price tag of 72.2 million euros, including safety measures. Factors like the pandemic, the Ukraine war, and inflation have collectively added 67 percent to the initial costs, as per a confidential report by Deloitte. Previously, Wüst had trimmed many special requests made during his predecessor Armin Laschet (CDU)'s time.
SPD's call for transparency
The SPD wing of the state parliament has asked for a report detailing the "final presentation of all user wishes made by the State Chancellery" and a list "of those user wishes that the current Minister President has planned for the renovation of the State Chancellery."
The climax of this saga revolves around whether the ongoing investigations by the public prosecutor's office have any implications for the commissioned architect. In essence, they're questioning whether the architectural firm entrusted with the State Chancellery renovation is still working on the project.
In the middle of January, the public prosecutor's office and the state criminal police carried out searches at 57 locations, including the headquarters of the state-owned construction and real estate management, business rooms of a lighting company, and the architectural firm. The motive behind these raids: Investigations into suspected bribery, corruption, anticompetitive agreements in tenders, embezzlement, and fraud related to the State Chancellery renovation. The inquiry is ongoing, according to the public prosecutor’s office in Wuppertal.
Key Players:- Hendrik Wüst (CDU)- State Chancellery- CDU- SPD- Public Prosecutor's Office- Cost increase- Düsseldorf- Ukraine- Inflation
Extra tidbit: The State Chancellery, located in Düsseldorf, serves as the office and residence of the Minister President of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Despite being a centuries-old building, it's undergoing a significant renovation to meet modern standards.
Source: Diesen-Bericht-will-SPD-Wüst-wünsche-zu-Staatskanzlei-Umbau-bekanntgeben/interessiert-sich-an-Investigation-des-Staatsanwaltsamts-betroffenen-Architekturbüro-4f71c3d1ee6a
- The SPD wing of the state parliament is requesting a detailed report on the "final presentation of all user wishes made by the State Chancellery" and a list of "those user wishes that the current Minister President, Hendrik Wuest, has planned for the renovation of the State Chancellery."
- The escalating costs of the State Chancellery renovation in Düsseldorf have raised questions about whether the architect, currently under investigation by the public prosecutor's office, is still involved in the project.
- The public prosecutor's office and state criminal police carried out raids at 57 locations, including the headquarters of the state-owned construction and real estate management, business rooms of a lighting company, and the architectural firm, in the context of investigations into suspected bribery, corruption, anticompetitive agreements in tenders, embezzlement, and fraud related to the State Chancellery renovation.
- The SPD seeks transparency in the employment policy decisions regarding the State Chancellery renovation, given the increasing costs, which have risen by 67 percent due to factors such as the pandemic, the Ukraine war, and inflation.
