Committee Discusses Special Leave for Civil Servant - SPD official's extended campaign leave sparks legal and political debate ahead of elections
A civil servant from the SPD-led Interior Ministry has faced scrutiny over her extended special leave. The official has been absent from her post since late 2024 to work on the party's state election campaign. The case has now reached the state parliament's Interior Committee, sparking debate over the legality of such arrangements.
The controversy centres on whether the official's leave complies with public service rules. The CDU has pushed for an urgent session to address the matter, just days before the March 22 state elections. Legal experts remain divided: Professor Joachim Wieland of the German University of Administrative Sciences in Speyer argues that such leave is lawful, as it fosters stronger links between civil service and society, including political parties.
Meanwhile, Christoph Gröpl, a constitutional and administrative law specialist at Saarland University, has reportedly called the practice unlawful. He claims it breaches the principle of neutrality required of civil servants. The case follows years of reform in several states, where special leave for officials has been cut back to tackle staff shortages in schools and government offices.
Between 2021 and 2026, states like Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and North Rhine-Westphalia reduced special leave entitlements—cutting Christmas and summer holidays and capping annual leave at 30 days. These changes led to legal challenges, including a 2023 ruling by Bavaria's Constitutional Court, as well as union-led lawsuits by dbb and Ver.di over equal treatment with non-civil service employees.
The Interior Committee's review comes at a politically sensitive time, with state elections looming. The outcome could influence future rules on special leave for civil servants involved in party campaigns. For now, the official remains on leave while the debate continues.
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