According to the recommendation of an independent committee, Thuringia's resigned Environment Minister Anja Siegesmund should observe a waiting period of 16 months before taking up a job in the economy.
The waiting period, which is possible under the Thuringian ministerial law, would begin with the resignation of the Green politician for personal reasons at the end of January 2023, according to government and state parliament circles in Erfurt on Thursday.
Erfurt – The recommendation of 16 months, which MDR Thuringia first reported on, was confirmed.
The State Chancellery declined to comment.
A spokeswoman only said on request that the cabinet would probably deal with a possible waiting period for the former environment minister in the second half of April.
A change from Siegesmund to the Federal Association of German Waste Management, Water and Recycling Management has been under discussion for weeks, which, according to earlier information, wants to make a decision on filling the executive presidential position at the end of May.
Neither Siegesmund nor the association had officially confirmed that she was the candidate for this.
The Green politician initially justified her resignation with a break in which she wanted to take time for her family and then start a new career.
The Thuringian Ministerial Act provides for a waiting period of up to 24 months for ex-ministers if they want to accept jobs that correspond to their previous office.
Ultimately, the state government makes the decision on the length of the waiting period, which obtains a recommendation from the external advisory committee.
The members of the advisory body are elected by the state parliament for a period of five years after an amendment to the ministerial law, which the Greens in particular pushed for after taking power in 2014.
No members or employees of the state parliament, the state government or ministries may belong to it.
According to MDR Thuringia, Siegesmund should have already been informed about the recommendation of the advisory body.
When asked by the MDR, she did not want to confirm or comment on this.
The association announced that it would complete the selection process for the position of president by the end of April and that it would decide on the appointment at the general meeting at the end of May, the broadcaster reported.
The Thuringian Ministerial Act, which was amended in 2018, states: "The state government can completely or partially prohibit gainful employment or other employment in the first 24 months after leaving office if there are concerns that public interests will be adversely affected by the employment." dpa
