government - Investigation launched against Affairs of State Secretaries
The Public Prosecutor's Office in Erfurt has discontinued investigations in the State Secretary Affair against the Thuringian State Government. This is stated in a letter from the authority, which is available to the German Press Agency (dpa). The investigations concerned the suspicion that Thuringia's Minister-President Bodo Ramelow (Left) or the ministers of his cabinet could have committed embezzlement to the detriment of the state when they appointed alleged inadequately qualified State Secretaries.
According to dpa information, the proceedings were discontinued because no criminally relevant actions were identified. Further investigations into the appointment of, for example, bureau chiefs or other leading positions are still ongoing.
Ramelow reacts relieved
Ramelow reacted relieved. "There is no indication of criminal relevance," he told the dpa in Erfurt. There was no serious breach of duty and no embezzlement.
The starting point for the investigations was a review report of the State Audit Office on the personnel policy of the red-red-green State Government. In it, among other things, it is criticized that, for example, the best candidates were not considered when appointing State Secretaries and documentation obligations were violated. The State Audit Office accuses the State Government of systematic and serious violations of rules for the appointment of civil servants.
Ramelow calls criteria "lifeless"
Ramelow and his State Chancellery Chief Benjamin-Immanuel Hoff (Left) acknowledged oversights, for example, in documentation obligations, but rejected the core accusations. The State Government stuck to a different legal opinion than the State Audit Office.
Ramelow now confirms that it is "unusual" for State Secretaries to fulfill all civil service requirements in every detail, such as age. It was a "strange assessment" of the State Audit Office, also in view of the practice of other state governments and the federal government, said Ramelow.
- The discontinuation of the investigations by the Public Prosecutor's Office in Erfurt is a significant victory for the Thuringian regional government, led by Minister-President Bodo Ramelow.
- The Prosecutor's Office declared that no criminally relevant actions were identified during their investigation into the State Secretary Affair, pertaining to the Thuringia government.
- In response to the discontinuation of the investigations, Ramelow expressed his relief, stating that there was no indication of criminal relevance or serious breach of duty.
- The State Audit Office's review report, which highlighted alleged violations in the Thuringia government's personnel policy, served as the starting point for the investigations by the Prosecutor's Office.
- Despite the discontinuation of investigations, Ramelow acknowledged oversights in documentation obligations but rejected the core accusations levied against him and his government by the State Audit Office.
