Overview
- The review focuses on long unpaid special leave granted to senior officials who moved to high-paid private-sector roles while keeping pension entitlements.
- At least one leave reportedly lasted about twelve years, with the state audit office previously flagging the practice in 2022 as unlawful.
- Auditors cited a case where a pension increased by up to €49,000 per year, implying potential lifetime costs exceeding €1 million for taxpayers.
- The SPD-led government rejects wrongdoing and cites a contrary opinion by former constitutional judge Udo Di Fabio finding the practice compatible with civil service law.
- Prosecutors say they are assessing whether an initial suspicion exists before opening a formal investigation, after the Freie Wähler submitted the Zimmermann analysis to authorities.