Again “Trier People’s Friend” and the “Rhein-Zeitung” report that a state employee had already been released for the election campaign.

State civil servant received special leave for SPD party work

The SPD-led Ministry of the Interior, headed by Roger Lewentz at the time, granted special leave to current Interior State Secretary Daniel Stich (SPD) from 2014 to 2021. He initially worked as state manager of the SPD in Rhineland-Palatinate and later also as general secretary. The criticism was loud because both of them continued to collect pension entitlements while they were on leave.

According to the Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry of the Interior, these are the only state employees who been given leave to work for the party be. In the meantime, this paid their salary and a compensation payment for the increasing pension claims, as the “Volksfreund” further reports. During the period of his leave of absence, Stich was also promoted to ministerial councilor.

Interior Ministry defends practice

Before the State election in Rhineland-Palatinate The focus was initially on the case of an SPD campaign manager who was on leave from her job as a state civil servant. The Interior Ministry defended the practice, citing the central role of parties in ensuring the functioning of democracy and the state.

A constitutional lawyer and the State Audit Office come to a different conclusion and classify the procedure as illegal.