German Ministers Face Scrutiny Over Last-Minute Civil Service Promotions

Top officials, including Habeck and Baerbock, have been criticized for strategically appointing civil servants to high-ranking roles just before the federal election.

• Economic Minister Robert Habeck used temporary appointments to fill ten high-ranking civil service positions, a move seen as legally compliant but politically strategic.
• Temporary appointments allow officials to gain leadership experience without permanent promotions, minimizing public backlash during a sensitive pre-election period.
• Critics, including CDU's Julia Klöckner, accuse Habeck and others of using these appointments to secure better prospects for their allies in future administrations.
• The practice, dubbed 'Operation Abendsonne,' has seen 146 high-level positions filled across ministries since October, with the Foreign Affairs Ministry under Annalena Baerbock leading in total promotions.
• Experts note that while these appointments are formally legal, their timing and scale raise concerns about potential political motivations.

3 Articles

Junge Freiheit WELT FOCUS online