Merz Promised to Abolish Commissioners, Now Cost Record High
Germany's government under Chancellor Merz is spending 89 million euros on special commissioners this year, a 29 percent increase despite campaign promises to eliminate such positions.
According to Junge Freiheit, the increase amounts to 20 million euros more than the final year under the previous coalition government. The figures come from the federal government’s response to an inquiry from the Green Party, as reported by Focus magazine.
During the federal election campaign, Friedrich Merz had pledged to eliminate government commissioners entirely if he became chancellor. Speaking at a CSU party conference, Merz attacked what he called the inflated bureaucratic apparatus in Berlin, including the numerous commissioners who he said create more problems than they solve.
Coalition Promised Consolidation
The coalition agreement between the Union and SPD called for halving the number of commissioners in the name of budget consolidation. Shortly after his election as chancellor in May 2025, Merz announced plans to eliminate 25 commissioner positions.
Currently, 24 special commissioners remain in office, down 19 from the number two and a half years ago. Yet rather than achieving budget consolidation, spending on these positions has increased substantially.
Migration Commissioner Commands Largest Budget
Natalie Pawlik, the SPD commissioner for Migration, Refugees and Anti-Racism, commands the largest budget among the special commissioners. Her office receives 31.3 million euros and employs 62 staff members.
The Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency, led since 2022 by special commissioner Ferda Ataman, has 10.3 million euros allocated in the current federal budget plan.
The figures reveal a stark disconnect between the Merz government’s rhetoric about reducing bureaucratic excess and the reality of increased spending on politically appointed commissioners and their expanding staffs.
With information from Junge Freiheit
