Federal agents' departure results in an 180,000-euro change
The German federal government's decision to reduce the number of commissioners, plenipotentiaries, and coordinators by 25 has come under scrutiny, with Green parliamentary leader Sebastian Schäfer suggesting that the consolidation efforts are primarily for publicity.
In a statement made to the German Press Agency, Schäfer criticised the government for focusing on producing headlines rather than delivering policy. He claimed that the consolidation among commissioners only results in savings of 0.00004 percent of the 2025 budget, implying that the government is not delivering on its promises of reducing bureaucracy.
The positions abolished include the Sea Commissioner, the Cycling Commissioner, and the Special Representative for International Climate Policy. However, it has been noted that the functions of some commissioners were being performed by civil servants within the respective ministry, resulting in minimal cost savings. The reduction in positions brings an annual savings of at least 178,800 euros.
Finance State Secretary Dennis Rohde provided the explanation for the annual savings resulting from the reduction in positions. Despite the savings, Schäfer's comments imply that the savings are not substantial enough to justify the reduction in commissioner positions.
The Union and SPD are the political parties involved in the decision to reduce bureaucracy. The decision was made in the first meeting of the federal cabinet in May.
Schäfer's critique extends to the Union's approach to policy-making, with the Green leader suggesting that the consolidation among commissioners is not generating significant budget savings. There are no search results providing the names of the 25 shortened commissioners or the portfolios under them, further fuelling Schäfer's concerns about the transparency of the consolidation process.
The federal government has cut 25 positions in an effort to send a signal of seriousness about reducing bureaucracy. However, the lack of substantial budget savings has raised questions about the effectiveness of this approach. The consolidation among commissioners is facing criticism for its lack of substantial budget savings, with Schäfer's comments adding weight to these criticisms.
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