After part-time job affair: Ministry of Finance still has no new rules of conduct

After the part-time affair involving a head of department in the Federal Ministry of Finance, Christian Lindner’s office is still reviewing new rules of conduct for its civil servants – but so far with no result. This emerges from an answer by Parliamentary State Secretary Florian Toncar to a written question from CDU member of the Bundestag Matthias Hauer star is present.

In December, Lindner commissioned a “general review of the rules of conduct for civil servants”. Shortly before, a ZDF investigation had revealed that a head of the company’s department was said to have taken part as a speaker at an event at which tips on avoiding taxes were presented. The case brought the secondary activities of Finance Ministry officials into focus (). The Ministry of Finance has now announced that the examination is ongoing.

Ministry of Finance wants to rewrite guidelines

According to the Ministry of Finance, the existing guidelines in the Ministry of Finance should be redrafted. However, it remains unclear when the process will be completed. The aim is, among other things, to “further differentiate” the regulatory framework for civil servants and to give employees “further orientation”. Different areas of the ministry are involved, from human resources management to compliance to internal audit.

CDU politician Hauer criticizes the slow approach in the Ministry of Finance. “The review of the rules of conduct for civil servants in the Ministry of Finance has still not been completed after three months and has no consequences that contribute to greater transparency for the public,” Hauer told the star. “The fact that the ministry cannot even specify a date for the completion of the review shows the low priority that the issue enjoys there.”

The budget politician called for quick results. “Finance Minister Lindner’s ministry is the clear frontrunner when it comes to additional income,” said Hauer. The ministry must ensure that the secondary activities carried out “do not even give the appearance” of a conflict of interest – also to protect the officials there.

Civil servants in federal ministries have earned more than two million euros through secondary employment since the start of the traffic light government (as of January 2024). The top performers are Treasury officials, official figures show. A total of 445 secondary activities were approved, reported or not prohibited and income of around 716,000 euros was achieved. The civil servants of the Federal Ministry of Justice follow at some distance with 206 secondary jobs – however, the Federal Ministry of Economics is in second place in terms of income with around 592,000 euros.