- It's about a three-digit million amount.
- This is how much money was spent on advisors in the Ministry of Defense under Ursula von der Leyen.
- It is undisputed that a lot went wrong. But who is responsible?
- The FDP, the Greens and the Left give names.
It's about a three-digit million amount.
This is how much money was spent on advisors in the Ministry of Defense under Ursula von der Leyen. It is undisputed that a lot went wrong. But who is responsible?
The FDP, the Greens and the Left give names.
In the advisory affair of the Ministry of Defense, the FDP, the Greens and the Left see a considerable joint responsibility of the former head of department Ursula von der Leyen. The “factual complete failure” of the Ministry of Defense in dealing with advice and support is “not only a problem at the working level, but also a problem with Dr. von der Leyen “, it says in a joint special vote of the three parliamentary groups on the findings of the parliamentary committee of inquiry.
The committee had dealt with the affair. According to estimates by the FDP, the Greens and the Left, financial damage in the higher double-digit millions has arisen.
In contrast to the opposition, the CDU / CSU and SPD had not formulated any legal or direct political allegations against the CDU politician in their final report . Von der Leyen - today President of the EU Commission - had repeatedly admitted mistakes in the award of the contract, but rejected personal responsibility for them.
"I think she has taken over"
In contrast, the FDP defense politician Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann said on Tuesday that the former defense minister does have a political responsibility. “The ladder always falls from top to bottom,” she emphasized. Von der Leyen was responsible for opening the ministry “wide open” to consultants, for there being no controls, for the structures not being worked up. "I simply believe that she has taken over too."
"She could have known and she should have known," said the Green budgetary politician Tobias Lindner. “Not knowing does not release responsibility.” In future, consultancy contracts would have to be awarded in a legally compliant manner, their necessity carefully examined and transparency towards Parliament established. It must also be ensured that private relationships between consultants and ministry employees do not play a role. There will always be external advice. Then, however, certain rules are to be adhered to "so that tax money is not burned".
"A prime example of how it shouldn't go"
Left-wing MP Matthias Höhn said that due to this background, von der Leyen should not have been allowed to become EU Commission President. The fact that she did not take responsibility and that there were no consequences for her had a negative impact on politics as a whole. "This is a prime example of how things cannot go if you want to restore the trust of the citizens."
In a report in 2018, the Federal Audit Office strongly questioned the economic efficiency and legality of the use of consultants in the ministry. The FDP, the Left and the Greens then set up the Defense Committee as a committee of inquiry. Specifically, it was about allegations of incorrect order placement and nepotism. The use of external consultants cost a three-digit million amount in von der Leyen's tenure alone.
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