Allegedly breached the duty of confidentiality: Sielmann defends himself against Rüffel

The series of skirmishes in the Garmisch-Partenkirchner local politics is richer by a new episode: FDP councilor Martin Sielmann has turned to the Bavarian state parliament with a petition.

The reason: The Liberal does not agree with a complaint that he received because of the alleged breach of confidentiality.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen

- The incident happened some time ago: In mid-October, Martin Sielmann, Garmisch-Partenkirchen's chief opposition member and FDP lone fighter in the local council, received a registered letter from the town hall with sensitive content.

In it, his permanent rival, Mayor Elisabeth Koch (CSU), informed him that his behavior was reprimanded by the market community.

From a legal point of view, the whole thing is nothing more than an ineffective expression of disapproval.

However, the official character and the vehemence with which this reprimand was carried out are remarkable: the municipality even issued a multi-page decision based on a unanimous decision of the municipal council - taken in camera.

According to his own statements, the scolded did not take part in the meeting.

Report sent with sensitive data

According to the allegation, Sielmann is said to have violated his duty of confidentiality because he emailed a report from the auditing office containing sensitive and personal data - as an attachment to an application.

Particularly explosive: According to reports, there was also an ex-member of the municipal council among the addressees - someone to whom such internal administrative matters under no circumstances concern.

The report that the FDP man put into circulation uncovered a delicate problem with the Free Voters: with them, parliamentary group funds ended up in the private accounts of the parliamentary group leaders at the time.

Sielmann called for a new version of the corresponding statutes, which regulate the payment and use of these grants - which has now happened.

The local politician, who is running in the federal election next year, is therefore not aware of any guilt - and does not want to accept the ruffle.

The lively complaints forum of the Bavarian State Parliament should help him.

He submitted a petition there - with the request that the complaint be lifted.

For him it was only about the matter, he explains in defense - and argues: "The document was necessary for the purpose of the application." In addition, the document from the auditing office was not marked with any indication of confidentiality.

Speculation about the background

The Federal Foreign Office official, who is currently employed at the Goethe Institute, suspects other reasons anyway: “That was a political warning from the First Mayor,” he speculates.

The suspicion arises that his objections to the controversial statutes should be nipped in the bud.

And one could interpret this tough approach as an attempt to intimidate other critics.

“That was tied to my person,” believes Sielmann.

The Free Democrat is satisfied with the new set of rules, which specifies the future handling of parliamentary group funds - these are earmarked and intended for office supplies or training, for example.

For example, usage lists must be drawn up and repayments made if money has not been used at the end of an election period or when a parliamentary group is dissolved.

“The problem has been resolved.

It was high time ", Sielmann sums up - and adds self-praise:" That is also my merit. "

City hall boss Koch did not want to comment on the complaint when asked by the daily newspaper and referred to a non-public decision.