Golden posts at taxpayers' expense? What's behind the family minister's Paris job

Image source: Instagram @lisa.paus

Green minister hands out top jobs - shortly before leaving

11,300 euros a month, a new job at the German embassy in Paris and a newly created department in the ministry: Family Minister Lisa Paus (Greens) is currently being heavily criticized. And not because of her political content - but because of alleged pension posts for close confidants shortly before the end of her term of office.

What happened? According to Bild, Paus has created two new top positions - and filled them with loyal employees. Particularly in focus: political scientist Farhad Dilmaghani, who was first her spokesperson, then rose to become a highly paid sub-department head - and now, if everything goes as expected, is moving to Paris as a family officer. A position that didn't even exist before.

New top job in Paris - but for whom and why?

According to the report, the position at the Paris embassy was only advertised in January, apparently specially tailored to Dilmaghani's profile. And although it is actually valued at the significantly lower salary level A15 (around 6900 euros basic salary), he is to continue to be paid at B6 - that is over 11,300 euros per month, plus a tax-free foreign allowance. A family advisor at the embassy is anything but common: large ministries such as Defense or the Interior regularly have such posts, but the small Ministry of Family Affairs has not yet. Paus' predecessors had apparently rejected the idea. Now it is suddenly becoming a reality - just in time for the minister's farewell.

Nothing has been officially confirmed yet. The ministry refers to "data protection reasons" and generally speaks of wanting to enable managers to work abroad - for later career options.

New unit, old confidant?

But Paris is not the only new career step that Paus apparently wants to make possible for her people. According to Bild, a new department entitled "Education for Sustainable Development" has also been created within the ministry itself - also newly introduced and already visible in the organization chart. It is to be headed by the minister's previous head of office. Here too, there is no official confirmation - again with reference to data protection.

Taxpayers' association outraged: "This smells like a waste of money"

The reactions to the events are clear. The Taxpayers' Association speaks of a "waste of money". President Reiner Holznagel is clear in Bild: "Why does the ministry suddenly need an exclusive post at an embassy? Why is a separate department being created out of thin air?"

The accusations are serious - especially because taxpayers' money is at stake here. If it really was just a matter of "providing" deserving employees, then this would be highly problematic politically. Such posts - whether in Paris or Berlin - should be filled professionally, transparently and openly. Not by party affiliation or personal proximity. Whether everything was formally correct in the end or not - the impression remains: Well-paid positions are being created here for confidants just before the end.