The list of differences of opinion in the traffic light coalition has grown by one entry. New bone of contention: the extension of the Federal Chancellery at Berlin’s Spreebogen planned by the previous government. Starting in the spring, a six-storey and two single-storey buildings with around 400 offices, a canteen, logistics and event areas and a helipad are to be built next to the existing office of Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD). Costs according to government figures: 777 million euros, but given the increased construction costs, the actual price is likely to be even higher.
The Federal Chancellery regards the new building as necessary. Around 200 of the 750 employees currently have no place in the existing building. “The aim of the extension is to bring all employees together again,” says Olaf Scholz. There is currently an “acute shortage of offices” and the extension is “necessary”.
Finance Minister Christian Lindner sees things differently. In his fight for a balanced budget through less spending, the FDP leader sees savings potential at the Spreebogen. “I believe that in times of more home office and location-flexible work, a new building next to the Chancellery, which costs at least 800 million euros, is unnecessary,” he said on Wednesday evening on the ARD program “Maischberger”. His experience from the Federal Ministry of Finance is that 65 percent of employees no longer work in their offices. It follows that office space can be used differently and limited. “So why such an expensive new building?” asked Linder.
The demand for a halt to the expansion plans is not new. Last October, the Bundestag discussed the topic at the request of the AfD. “We are in a crisis, and of course it is necessary to check whether the costs and risks are still in proportion or whether such a project can be postponed or adjusted,” said Lindner’s party colleague Sandra Weeser at the time. “Applause from the FDP, the SPD and the Bündnis 90/Die Grünen” was noted in the plenary minutes.
But the statement by the finance minister at “Maischberger” is likely to cause greater waves than the Bundestag debate, as Lindner himself knows. “I think he will be displeased that I’ve proposed this here, but that’s my job,” he said A look at Olaf Scholz, who, by the way, has not yet commented on the Finance Minister’s proposal. In any case, it is uncertain whether the chancellor will be able to benefit from the extension at all. Plans call for completion in 2028.
Nobody can refer to the coalition agreement in the traffic light dispute that may be looming. The parties have not agreed on anything on the subject.
Also read: “Official apartment in the Chancellery: Olaf Scholz runs government business from here during his Corona illness”
Sources: “Maischberger” in the ARD media library, Federal Chancellery, Federal Office for Building and Regional Planning, Schultes Frank Architekten, Bundestag, coalition agreement, DPA news agency
