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Auditor sounds the alarm: parliamentary group funds in private accounts with free voters

2020-12-03T12:48:11.480Z


Just a misunderstanding or a scandal after all? The question arises in the case of the Free Voters Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The audit office complained that payments from the town hall got into the wrong hands. Those affected clarify the case.


Just a misunderstanding or a scandal after all?

The question arises in the case of the Free Voters Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

The audit office complained that payments from the town hall got into the wrong hands.

Those affected clarify the case.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen

- These are not easy times for the free voters in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

Over the years they have lost their favor with the voters.

In 2008 five members of the group had moved into the market town council, and they appointed the third mayor in Hannes Krätz.

Today there are three members - a small parliamentary group that is history just a few months after the election.

Lilian Edenhofer, local chief, aspiring mayor and initially certain group chairman, broke with her colleagues Martin Kurschatke and Daniel Schimmer.

In addition, two years ago there was the tiresome financial story about the former chairman and also mayor candidate Florian Möckl, which resulted in a complete change in the local board.

Much unrest.

Another chapter has now been added to this list: The auditing office of the market town sounded the alarm in the summer.

By chance, the employees at the office in Garmisch-Partenkirchen town hall discovered that the parliamentary group contributions - 100 euros per parliamentary group and five euros per capita - did not go to an account of the Free Voters, but to the respective private accounts from January to June 2020 Group chairmen.

First at Möckl in the old legislative period, then at Edenhofer.

Auditors in Garmisch-Partenkirchen come across discrepancies by chance

The coincidence now was that the auditors had noticed that the payments were made twice in the month of April 2020.

As a result, the department dealt a little more closely with the transfers to the parties and groups - and uncovered the problem.

"The payment of parliamentary group contributions to private accounts is illegal," says the auditor's report, which is available to the daily newspaper.

The money was withdrawn from the direct use of the parliamentary groups, and in the worst case scenario, it could no longer be used in the event of bankruptcy.

The employees in the town hall also uncovered that Edenhofer had closed the existing parliamentary group account of the Free Voters and given their bank details to the community for payments.

The auditor's clear demand: "This procedure must be reversed immediately."

New parliamentary group leader Daniel Schimmer: "No financial scandal"

Is there a real affair behind this story, an attempt at fraud?

Those affected weigh down.

“We definitely do not slip into a financial scandal,” emphasizes Daniel Schimmer.

The businessman has currently taken over the chairmanship of the Edenhofer parliamentary group.

He can't say much about the past.

“I've never been on the board of directors of the Free Voters, I'm just a member, I didn't notice anything like that in the background.” Of course, he's now involved - and was always trying to come to terms with it.

He could not speak for the Möckl era.

He didn't see it.

For the events in the past weeks and months - the matter had dragged on for so long - he draws a clear conclusion: “Everything went smoothly, there is transparent accounting, all the money is available, we are all the auditor's demands complied. ”Both Möckl and Edenhofer had repaid all amounts.

“This is also known to the town hall.” The Free Voters even have a parliamentary group account again.

He makes no secret of the fact that the solution to park the parliamentary group's money in Edenhofer's private account was not the best idea.

"That was a mistake, I am happy to admit that." But he also makes it clear that this act arose out of a certain inexperience in political processes.

“We were all completely new to this situation in the spring, three new councilors.

Ms. Edenhofer didn't do that maliciously either. ”As the new head of the parliamentary group, one thing is important to him:“ There must not be the slightest doubt about the economic activity of the Free Voters. ”

Ex-mayoral candidate Lilian Edenhofer rolls up the case

With all the disagreements that may have recently prevailed between the former parliamentary group colleagues, Edenhofer can only underline that there was never an intention to commit fraud.

She rolls up the case completely: In April 2018, she joined the Free Group and was involved in the local board.

In December 2019, she received a call from the bank that an account existed there that the former chairman Möckl was still authorized to use.

Around 4,000 euros are stored there.

Edenhofer researched, asked Josef Angelbauer and Hannes Krätz.

She was told that it was the faction account.

Edenhofer consulted with treasurer Thomas Radtke.

The result: "We have closed the account and deposited the money into the club account."

After the election, Edenhofer and Co. found out about the monthly allowances.

“We in the parliamentary group decided to have this money transferred to my account until we have a new parliamentary group account.” Opening one at a bank is no longer so easy today.

"They don't want any more club accounts," confirms Schimmer.

Ultimately, it was about 325 euros from town hall funds, which, like the around 4000 euros, are now in a new position at VR-Bank.

"We did the accounting, and everything is there," clarifies Edenhofer.

Community wants to issue new statutes

As the end of this story, the Garmisch-Partenkirchner municipal council will deal with the topic on Thursday.

A new "statute for the granting of subsidies for material expenses of the parliamentary groups" should be the result.

Because the auditor is already warning of numerous changes to the 2014 version.

Specifically: The provisions for the use of the money would have to be fixed, and an obligation to provide evidence of the activities for which the parties actually use the money should be integrated.

He even raises the question of whether these grants are fundamentally necessary.

At Edenhofer he runs into open doors with it.

She says: "The money could be used more sensibly elsewhere."

The municipal administration has already drawn up a proposal for a new statute.

This is also important to Mayor Elisabeth Koch (CSU).

She only comments so much: "Something like this will not happen anymore, we took action immediately."

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2020-12-03

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