Future as former chancellor
Seven employees, two drivers, salaries of 10,000 euros: spokesman defends Merkel’s future office equipment
Have a good laugh: Chancellor Angela Merkel has been approved by the main committee of the Bundestag for her former chancellor’s office to be lavishly furnished (archive picture).
© Wolfgang Kumm / DPA
Chancellor Angela Merkel can rely on an office with seven employees after the end of her term in office. “Modesty looks different!” Scoffs the left. But her spokesman jumps at Merkel.
The outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) still resides in the Chancellery in Berlin, but even after moving out of Willy-Brandt-Strasse 1, the then former head of government is still entitled to an office. Its planned equipment, however, causes a great stir.
Merkel’s staff is likely to cost up to 56,000 euros a month
One office manager, one deputy office manager, two specialist officers, three clerks: inside and two drivers: the main committee of the Bundestag had granted Merkel on Tuesday evening for her retirement. A salary of B6 is planned for the two management positions, i.e. around 10,400 euros per month. Depending on the work experience of the employees, a total of between 46,000 and 56,000 euros per month could be incurred.
Merkel can also fill two more posts than, for example, former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder (SPD) after his chancellorship in 2005. In return for the new jobs, vacant positions in the Defense Ministry are to be saved.
“It is in line with long-term state practice that Chancellors are provided with an office when they are not in service to support them in fulfilling their official duties,” said government spokesman Steffen Seibert on Wednesday, justifying Merkle’s future staff member against criticism. The staff will help Merkel technically and organizationally. “Private activities or activities aimed at income will not be supported by this future retired office,” emphasized Seibert.
Seibert denied reports that Merkel wanted to place her previous office manager Beate Baumann or speech writer Eva Christiansen on the line.
Left mocks “over-equipping”
“Modesty looks different!” Left politician Gesine Lötzsch commented on the committee decision on Tuesday evening on Twitter. She scoffed at “Spiegel”: “The lavish furnishings of your future office give the impression that you want to open a shadow chancellery.” The incumbent Finance Minister Olaf Scholz (SPD) is apparently deeply in their debt. “There is no other explanation for this oversupply.”
And Lötzsch told the AFP news agency: “It doesn’t matter how you rate Ms. Merkel’s work, but you don’t need an office manager or a deputy manager with a salary of 10,000 euros each to answer fan mail and send out autograph cards.” However, if Merkel were to take on new functions, one could negotiate appropriate financing.
Merkel’s office equipment is also interesting against the background of a decision in the Budget Committee in 2019. At that time, it was decided that future Chancellors and Federal Presidents should only have five employees – an office manager, two speakers, an office or typist and a driver. That would be four fewer than intended for Merkel. However, the decision only applies to future chancellors and federal presidents.
Before the general election, Merkel said about her plans after the end of her term in office that she wanted to take it easy, take a break and think “what actually interests me”. “And then maybe I’ll try to read something, then my eyes will close because I’m tired, then I’ll sleep a little, and then we’ll see,” she said.