What does this mean for the government?: The Berlin mayor and his minister love each other

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Deep looks, a broad smile and a bubbling rumor mill: Berlin’s politics have not been determined by initiatives, legislative changes or social developments for days. Instead, everyone asked themselves the question: does Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner (51, CDU) have a relationship with his senator for education Katharina Günther-Wünsch (40, also CDU)? The confirmation will follow on Friday: Yes, the two love each other.

As Wegner’s lawyer Christian Schertz announced on Friday according to “Bild”, they both decided to enter into a relationship in the autumn of 2023. They asked him to “confirm this for reasons of transparency and to ensure clarity for everyone involved in the professional collaboration.”

Parliamentary question submitted

For a long time, politicians did not comment on the rumors of a relationship – something for which they were accused by the other parties and various compliance experts. What the two do in their free time is a private matter, but at work this constellation is very political, according to the tenor.

Former AfD member Antonin Brousek (now independent) had even submitted a parliamentary question seeking confirmation or denial of the love affair. Several politicians from other factions previously responded to the rumors: “It doesn’t work that way,” FDP member Thomas Sattelberger (74) told “Bild”. And ex-politician Marcel Luthe (47), now chairman of the Good Governance union, adds: “Every civil servant who makes advances to his employee – rightly – has a problem. But not the charmer Kai Wegner?

“Not in conflict with legal provisions”

Now the pressure was apparently too much. Schertz further explains: “Regardless of the fact that such a constellation does not conflict with any legal provision, it is of course self-evident that those involved strictly separate private and professional matters in connection with their official duties.”

The CDU and the SPD have been cautious about the Wegner issue for a long time. But there was also criticism from within its own ranks. The chairman of the Berliner Junge Union (JU), Harald Burkart, told Spiegel as follows: “That wouldn’t work in a company,” Burkart said. “Unfortunately, relationships of dependence are not uncommon in the Berlin CDU, such as in the CDU state office.”

“Difficult terrain” according to compliance experts

Hamburg lawyer and compliance expert Daniel Graewe told Spiegel that such stories are “difficult territory”. The basic rule is: where love falls. “But a new situation obviously arises when the lovers are at different levels of the hierarchy or are superiors and subordinates,” says the expert, who is also concerned with the rules of legal and ethical clean business in the economy. Possible favoritism or even the appearance of favoritism is poison for the working atmosphere in companies or in politics.

Also in this case, the constellation could give the impression that a potential partner enjoys advantages – for example during budget debates or criticism in public. “Just like in a company, you have to ask yourself: how do we solve this?” According to Graewe, it would be discussed whether any of them should voluntarily give up the position.

Source: Blick