Inquiries into increased wages for Weil staff member.

The government is taking control Governing body is taking charge - Inquiries into increased wages for Weil staff member.

The Hannover prosecutor's office has launched an investigation on suspicion of embezzlement, due to a higher payment made to an important employee of Lower Saxony's Prime Minister, Stephan Weil. A spokesperson for the prosecutor's office confirmed this on Tuesday. This comes after private complaints were filed. Previous reports on the matter were published in "Rundblick," a political magazine, and "Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung."

The issue has been under scrutiny by a parliamentary committee in the state parliament for a few weeks now. The topic of discussion is whether the increase in compensation for the Weil employee was legal or not. The opposition CDU refers to this as a "salary scandal" since the existing administrative practice's regulations were altered specifically for one person. Last week, State Chancellor Jörg Mielke was called to testify in the committee. The CDU's parliamentary group has demanded the termination of Mielke's position.

According to the State Chancellery, the salary of the senior Weil employee was increased by 1886 euros gross per month after the probationary period, which amounts to roughly 22,600 euros annually. The individual has been working in the State Chancellery since February 2023 and is still in their position, receiving the increased amount.

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1. The investigation into the payment issue involving Stephan Weil's staff member is being handled by the Hanover public prosecutor's office, which falls under the jurisdiction of Lower Saxony's Administration of Justice.
2. Stephan Weil, the Prime Minister of Lower Saxony, is facing criticism from the opposition CDU over allegations of embezzlement, as detailed in the inquiries carried out by the Hanover public prosecutor's office and the parliamentary committee.
3. The CDU has been vocal in their assertions that the increase in wages for the senior Weil employee constitutes a "salary scandal," as the existing regulatory framework was seemingly altered specifically for this individual.
4. Stephan Weil's chief of staff has been receiving an increased salary of 1886 euros gross per month, following the completion of their probationary period, amounting to an annual income of approximately 22,600 euros.
5. The Lower Saxony government, led by Stephan Weil's CDU, remains in charge of this delicate situation, which has resulted in heightened scrutiny from both the public prosecutor's office and the State parliamentary committee.

Source: www.stern.de