East Germany - East Germans in management positions: differences in authorities
In the appointment of leadership positions by individuals of eastern German origin, there are significant differences among the ministries and authorities in Saxony-Anhalt. According to a response from the state government to a minor interpellation by the Left Party in the state parliament, around 54 percent of leaders across all ministries have an eastern German place of birth.
In downstream authorities such as police, administration, and courts, the numbers vary greatly. For example, the proportion of eastern German leaders in the police is quite high. In the Police Inspectorate Halle, the proportion is almost 92 percent, and at the State Criminal Police Office, it is 89 percent. However, in other authorities such as the State Central for Political Education (25 percent) or the State Forest Centre (17 percent), the proportion is significantly lower.
The Left has been calling for years to promote those born in the East. However, the state government rejected this demand. According to the Basic Law, the principle of selecting the best must be taken into account in the appointment of leadership positions, the state government stated. "The appointment is to be made solely on the basis of suitability, competence, and professional performance." The question of whether a person is to be considered eastern German should not be a deciding criterion.
Despite the Left Party's long-standing advocacy for promoting individuals of eastern German origin in leadership roles, the state government has maintained that only competence, suitability, and professional performance should be considered in these appointments. However, the distribution of eastern German leaders in various downstream authorities shows noticeable disparities. For instance, the Police Inspectorate Halle and the State Criminal Police Office have a high proportion of eastern German leaders, while the State Central for Political Education and the State Forest Centre have significantly lower numbers.
