Left Criticizes Rising Costs in Finance Ministry - Finance Minister Defends Leadership Expansion Amidst Rising Costs
Finance Minister Katja Wolf (BSW) has defended the expansion of the leadership level in her ministry, attributing it to an upcoming reform of the municipal financial equalization. However, the opposition Left party has criticized the rising costs in this area.
The Left MPs, Ulrike Große-Röthig and Sascha Bilay, have accused the coalition government of being disingenuous about the increasing expenses. They argue that while the government talks about controlling costs, the figures show otherwise. The projected personnel costs in the leadership area are set to rise from around 2.3 million euros to around 2.9 million euros in 2026.
The total costs, including material expenses, are expected to reach around 4 million euros in 2026, up from 2.8 million euros in 2024. This increase of approximately 1.2 million euros has raised eyebrows among the opposition.
The coalition, led by Minister-President Mario Voigt (CDU), maintains that these changes are necessary for the planned reform. However, the Left party insists that the state government should prioritize the needs of Thuringia's residents over administrative expenses. The debate surrounding these costs is expected to continue as the reform progresses.
