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Angela Merkel
Photo: Omer Messinger / POOL / EPA
Angela Merkel's chancellorship is about to end, the head of government is only in office until her successor is elected.
But even after her service, Merkel will have enough help to meet her obligations: an office with nine employees.
This is a source of criticism, the question arises as to whether such a large number of staff is a little exaggerated.
Government spokesman Steffen Seibert has now defended the equipment.
"It is in line with long-term state practice that Federal Chancellors are provided with an office when they are not on duty in order to support them in fulfilling their official duties," he said.
The staff will help Merkel technically and organizationally.
"Private activities or activities aimed at income will not be supported by this future aD office," emphasized Seibert.
On Tuesday evening, the main committee of the Bundestag decided that after her term in office, Merkel would be assigned an office with an office manager, deputy office manager, two technical specialists, three clerks and two drivers (read details here). A salary of B6 is planned for the two management positions, i.e. around 10,400 euros per month. A total of between 46,000 and 56,000 euros per month could be incurred - depending on the work experience of the employees.
Merkel will also have two more employees than, say, former Federal Chancellor Gerhard Schröder (SPD) after his chancellorship ended in 2005 - and four more than he has today.
In return for the new positions, vacant positions in the Ministry of Defense are to be saved.
Seibert denied reports that Merkel wanted to place her previous office manager Beate Baumann or speech writer Eva Christiansen on the line.
The left-wing politician Gesine Lötzsch scoffed on Twitter: "Modesty looks different!"
The lavish furnishings of Merkel's future office "gives the impression that she wants to open a shadow chancellery," Lötzsch told SPIEGEL.
The incumbent Finance Minister Olaf Scholz (SPD) is apparently deeply in their debt.
"There is no other explanation for this over-equipment."
as / dpa
