Former chancellor privileges: Kubicki questions offices for Merkel and Schröder

Bundestag Vice President Wolfgang Kubicki (FDP) has questioned the Bundestag offices for former Chancellors Gerhard Schröder (SPD) and Angela Merkel (CDU).

"I think it is essential to have a fundamental discussion about the extent to which these follow-up offices of Federal Chancellors must be fully staffed for decades to come," Kubicki told the newspapers of the editorial network Germany.

"Therefore, the question is justified as to whether Chancellor Merkel needs an office with double equipment on a permanent basis, while there is a time limit for the higher-ranking Presidents of the Bundestag," he continued.

The parliamentary secretary of the Greens, Irene Mihalic, confirmed reports that the budget committee of the Bundestag is examining the fundamental reduction of the former chancellor's privileges.

"Discussions are currently taking place about revising the rules for the appointments of former Chancellors," Mihalic told RND.

"This reform would then also affect the former Federal Chancellor Gerhard Schröder."

"However, this is not about an arbitrary reduction in salaries, that is not an option in the constitutional state," she emphasized.

"Regardless of this, we condemn Schröder's actions and his close contacts with the Putin regime in the strongest possible terms."

Undisputed former chancellor's office

While the pensions of the Federal President and members of the Federal Cabinet are regulated by law, the budgetary sovereignty of the Bundestag includes the provision of offices and staff.

Gerhard Schröder is currently entitled to nine positions for his former chancellor's office, for which 407,000 euros flowed from the state coffers last year, according to the Bundestag.

However, they are currently vacant because the employees resigned after the outbreak of war and no successor has yet been found.

Therefore, the budget exclusion is now examining whether to cut the positions in the federal budget for 2023.

Careful use of tax money

Vice President Kubicki told the RND: "I assume that the budget committee of the German Bundestag will handle the tax funds very carefully and will make a wise decision on this issue." the provision of office space makes no sense for pragmatic reasons".

Schröder is heavily criticized in the SPD for his work for Russian state-owned companies.

SPD leader Saskia Esken had therefore recently asked him to leave the party.

A party order procedure is already underway against Schröder, which could lead to his expulsion from the SPD.