Bureaucracy - Connect: Who wants less bureaucracy, must take a step back
On the way to a leaner Bureaucracy and smoother processes in business and administration, people from the communal associations must be willing to set aside their own interests and forgo certain benefits. "Bureaucracy reduction is helpful but painful," said the President of the Landkreistag, Joachim Walter. The President and CEO of the Baden-Württemberg Gemeindetag, Steffen Jäger, called for a new social consciousness. "It must be clear to us that the reduction of Bureaucracy inevitably goes hand in hand with the reduction of case-by-case consideration," Jäger told dpa.
Jäger criticized that too much attention is often paid to the loud minority and that they are catered to. "The silent majority would often be quite willing to bite the bullet and make some sacrifices," said he. Those who are willing to participate in a strenuous and challenging transformation and future process should be rewarded. "We must develop the strength to also hold our ground against what may be fiercely criticized by loud minorities," Jäger demanded.
Bureaucracy under criticism for years
Excessive Bureaucracy has been a thorn in the side of the country, municipalities, but above all also to businesses for years. In October 2022, eight associations sent a letter to Minister President Winfried Kretschmann and spoke of "paralyzing obstinacy" and a "palpable standstill." Besides city, community, and county councils, the Sparkassen and Savings Banks Association, as well as the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, signed the letter. The Green politician responded by declaring the reduction of Bureaucracy as a top priority and a major task for his remaining term in office.
In a so-called "Relief Alliance," proposals have been worked on in several waves on how to reduce Bureaucracy in the state. However, the associations show themselves far from satisfied with the latest 100-point package: It falls short of the self-set goals of the Relief Alliance, the results are not enough. Therefore, a tangible relief cannot be achieved.
Citizen decisions are "investor democracy"
The Tübingen district administrator and President of the Landkreistag, Walter, focuses on citizen decisions among other things: "Citizen decisions are investor democracy," said the President of the umbrella organization of the 44 Baden-Württemberg district associations. Above all, important transformation projects such as kindergartens and schools should not be hindered by this. "One doesn't want to have a kindergarten in the neighborhood," said Walter. "But what are we for as a society if such individual interests are given so much space?" Kindergartens are usually set up in a neighborhood-friendly manner. Of course, there will always be the sound of children playing. "That's something you have to put up with," said he.
Whoever calls for less Bureaucracy must also be prepared to accept decisions to his disadvantage. The politician accused the state government of prioritizing issues like housing and setting back progress through obstructionist instruments like excessive citizen participation.
Walter: Away from clientelism
When I constantly talk about bureaucracy reduction but nothing really happens, it becomes rather counterproductive, Walter said. People are losing faith in such grand announcements that have no discernible effects. Politics must have the courage to strike: The legislative will to shape has always been understood as "We'll just add another layer." But it's important to communicate to people what no longer works: Anyone who still has a legislative will to shape must also have the courage to make real cuts and not just distribute goodies. That means: Away from pure clientele consideration, we must prioritize the welfare of the state.
To see the growth of what he calls the "bureaucracy monster," Walter only has to look around his own Tübingen household. "In 2003, I had 480 employees in the Tübingen district. Then it went steeply uphill. Today, I am in the Tübingen district with 1000 employees," he said. "Not because I have an unlimited desire for personnel growth, but because of permanently increasing legal requirements and excessive performance promises."
- In response to Joachim Walter's call for a change in mentality for bureaucracy reduction, Winfried Kretschmann, the Minister President of Baden-Württemberg, identified it as a top priority and a significant task for his remaining term in office.
- Despite the efforts of the "Relief Alliance" to reduce bureaucracy in Baden-Württemberg, the associations involved expressed disappointment with the recent 100-point package, claiming it fell short of their goals and provided insufficient results.
- Joachim Walter, the Tübingen district administrator and President of the Landkreistag, argued that citizen decisions should be prioritized over individual interests, even if it means making decisions that may be disadvantageous to some.
- Criticizing the state government, Walter accused it of prioritizing housing issues over progress and using excessive citizen participation as an obstructionist instrument, hindering important transformation projects such as kindergartens and schools.
