Office manager at Weil promotion sparks trust violation inquiry by public prosecutor's office.
A long-standing debate over a promotion for the chief of staff to Weil has been ongoing for several months. The promotion includes a retrospective salary increment of 1,900 euros per month. Due to the CDU's request, the Lower Saxony parliament has formed a special committee to investigate the matter.
This promotion was based on a newly formulated internal government regulation regarding promotions. The CDU claims that Weil illegally enriched himself in this case and has accused him of using an illegal procedure. However, the government denies these allegations. The "Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung" was the first to report on the launch of investigations into what's been dubbed the 'salary affair' at the State Chancellery.
The CDU recently commissioned a legal opinion, which alleges that the original salary classification of the chief of staff and her subsequent promotion were both illegal. The public prosecutor's office's spokesperson stated that the reporting on this legal opinion is what prompted them to initiate a formal investigation, as it potentially indicated embezzlement. The authority's investigation of the issue began in March, following the receipt of two privately filed criminal complaints.
The government in Hanover acknowledged the reports on the initiation of the public prosecutor's office's investigations but claimed they hadn't made contact with the State Chancellery yet. "The State Chancellery still believes in the legality of its actions and sees no indications of illegality," said a spokeswoman for the government.
In contrast, the CDU faction in the Lower Saxony parliament feels vindicated. "We've been saying for months that the way the higher payment was granted to the chief of staff of the Prime Minister is illegal," stated the parliamentary leader of the CDU faction, Carina Hermann. Hermann also criticized the head of the State Chancellery, State Secretary Jörg Mielke (SPD). According to the findings of the special committee, Mielke had been warned by his own civil servants before approving a retroactive salary increase for Weil's chief of staff.
Read also:
- This will change in December
- Dikes withstand water masses so far - Scholz holds out the prospect of help
- Fireworks and parties ring in 2024 - turn of the year overshadowed by conflicts
- Attacks on ships in the Red Sea: shipping companies avoid important trade route
- The Office manager's promotion at Weil led to a trust violation investigation by the public prosecutor's office in Hanover due to allegations of illegal enrichment.
- The Lower Saxony parliament formed an investigation committee following the CDU's request to probe the promotion's legality, including the retrospective salary increase of 1,900 euros per month.
- The public prosecutor's office initiated the investigation after receiving two privately filed criminal complaints and considering potential embezzlement indications from the CDU-commissioned legal opinion.
- Initial suspicion of misconduct focused on Prime Minister Stephan Weil, his chief of staff, and State Secretary Jörg Mielke (SPD) who allegedly approved a retroactive salary increase despite warnings from civil servants.
- The Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung was the first to report on the scandal, which has been dubbed as the 'salary affair' at the State Chancellery, sparking public interest and debate.
- The investigation committee's findings have led to criticism from the CDU faction in the Lower Saxony parliament, calling for accountability and transparency in the matter.
Source: www.stern.de
