After the bankruptcy of a private bank, the city of Puchheim is threatened with a loss of two million euros.
Now the question arises: How did this happen?
Two groups are already expressing skepticism about the town hall's approach to the deposit of money.
The FDP brought this now the accusation of right-wing populism à la AfD.
Puchheim
- The impending loss of two million euros, which the city invested in a private bank, is making waves.
Before the meeting of the city council, which is due to discuss the topic next Tuesday, there are already applications from the CSU and FDP and, surprisingly, from Mayor Norbert Seidl (SPD).
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“In retrospect, the statement was a bit careless.
But if left-green is automatically associated with the AfD, you are not allowed to say anything ”, Martin Koch, FDP city councilor and district chairman.
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So far, the Free Voters have contented themselves with a brief statement for the media, the CSU wants to inform in advance of its position at a press conference this Friday.
And “the financial debacle” is also hotly debated on social media: FDP city councilor Martin Koch even had to be held up to being close to the AfD after a post on Facebook.
The liberal, also the district chairman of his party, had written of the “left-green riot bourgeoisie”, in which every statement about the loss of millions is only dismissed as an election campaign noise.
The statement was a little careless, he later told our newspaper, but if "left-green" is automatically associated with the AfD, "one shouldn't say anything more".
Prejudgment is in the room
That would presumably suggest to him the Green parliamentary group leader Gisella Gigliotti, who for her part complained of “populism without end” - “on an equal footing with AfD Meuthen”.
And Jean-Marie Leone also asked the liberal on Facebook if he wanted to “cut up all the tablecloths”.
"Anyone who uses the jargon of legal alternatives to city council colleagues should not be surprised that they are being moved near them," said the SPD spokesman in the city council for the daily newspaper.
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“Anyone who uses the jargon of legal alternatives to city council colleagues should not be surprised that they are brought close to them,” said Jean-Marie Leone, SPD parliamentary group spokesman.
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But something else bothers the Social Democrats even more: the at least semi-publicly suggested “prejudgment” of the mayor or chamberlain.
Anyone who is guilty of any misconduct should be clarified calmly.
The city council's own auditing committee could receive a corresponding audit assignment and also be allowed to use external expertise.
The Greens see it similarly: “We are waiting to see if and how the questions will be answered,” says Gigliotti.
"We don't want to speculate which heads have to roll."
Support comes from the free voters.
They plead for “prudence” before a “full clarification” through which the town hall could regain the trust of the citizens after the “regrettable matter”.
The CSU sounds a bit more skeptical, which in its application for the city council demands, among other things, detailed information about the history of the investment, any compensation claims and even the "fastest possible decisions" to "terminate further investments".
The previous statements by the administration on the subject complex were "not convincing".
The alleged 20-page internal interim report for the city councils leaves "many questions unanswered", also in the opinion of FDP city council member Koch.
Committee should review the procedure
The mayor - personally affected as the head of administration - has submitted a motion to the city council through his deputy Manfred Sengl, which takes up all these questions.
The Audit Committee is to review the guidelines unanimously adopted in 2018 on the investment of city money and any inadequacies in implementation as well as the responsibilities of those involved - from the town hall boss to the treasurer.
Seidl also hopes for suggestions on how to make claims for damages or prevent future faulty investments.
Incidentally, none of the faction leaders could have warned the city of its risky investment or its continuation with a money house before its business was closed.
Greensill Bank?
“Never heard of it before,” says Leone and even Koch, who has been a financial officer since last year, admits that he first had to do some research.
Max Keil (ubp) is not exactly a finance expert either, but thinks that the city could use its money “more efficiently” than leaving it in dubious banks.
For example, to pay outstanding tradesman's bills or to invest in land purchases.
But the organic farmer is the only one who can add something cheerful to the subject.
He still sells at the Bruck farmers' market and meets colleagues from the local city council there.
And they were already joking about whether he had a donation pot for the almost ruined Puchheim.
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