Giffey absent from meeting: criticism and deduction of 75,000 euros
Neither Berlin's Senator for Economic Affairs Franziska Giffey nor one of her state secretaries attended a committee meeting last month, which was part of the compulsory program for the head of the Economic Administration. In response to this dereliction of duty, the main committee decided that the economic administration had to save 75,000 euros in its budget. This involved a meeting of the subcommittee for districts, personnel and administration on October 9. Giffey announced on Friday that she regretted that this "internal error" had occurred and took responsibility for it.
Giffey: "The "Parliament First" principle applies"
"We have already changed the procedures in the economic administration so that such an error can no longer occur," said the SPD politician. "The 'Parliament First' principle applies. If I had known that my participation was necessary, other appointments would of course have been canceled." Parliament's right to information is always her top priority. The "Tagesspiegel" newsletter "Checkpoint" (Friday) had previously reported on this.
In a written question to the Senate, Green MP Tuba Bozkurt had enquired about the reason for the absence. The economic administration responded as follows: "The absence of the senator and her state secretaries is due to an unfortunate internal error caused by an unusually high level of illness."
Greens criticize Giffey as "Instagram Queen"
Bozkurt told Checkpoint that everyone understands the high level of sickness and excessive demands. "But the senator wasn't actually ill." On October 9, the Senator for Economic Affairs visited the Berlin city cleaning service and posted a photo of it on Instagram. "It gives the fatal impression that Ms Giffey gives higher priority to her official duties as "Instagram Queen" than those of a senator," criticized Bozkurt.
According to a spokesperson for the House of Representatives, there would be no fine for the absence - but a so-called shortfall in expenditure of 75,000 euros. According to the economic administration, this will be paid from the budget item "Remuneration of regular civil servants". "The funds available here have not yet been fully utilized due to vacancies that have not yet been filled."
The Senate had to save 75,000 euros in its budget due to Senator Giffey and her state secretaries' absence from a mandatory committee meeting in the House of Representatives. Giffey later acknowledged this "internal error" and emphasized that the "Parliament First" principle is crucial for her.
Source: www.dpa.com
