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Berlin introduces new rules for ex-senators: A step towards clarity!
The Berlin Senate is planning new rules for ex-senators to avoid conflicts of interest and strengthen trust in politics.
Berlin introduces new rules for ex-senators: A step towards clarity!
A breath of fresh air is blowing through Berlin's political corridors: the Senate is planning to reform the way it deals with former Senate members. Senate spokeswoman Christine Richter recently said that clear rules should be introduced for the transition to new professional activities. The aim of this regulation is to maintain trust in the integrity of the government and to prevent the appearance of possible party involvement, such as South German newspaper reported.
It is impressive that the Senate relies on proven regulations from other federal states. A waiting period regulation should be established in the Senators Act, which is based on the regulations in Brandenburg. There, former Senate members must report their new job offers outside of the public service to the Senate in the first two years after their term in office.
A step in the right direction
The bill, which is already being introduced in the House of Representatives, requires a panel of independent experts to examine the possibility of a conflict of interest. These experts can recommend that the Senate prohibit a former senator from changing jobs before the end of the waiting period. In addition, those who do not disclose their move to the private sector face fines of up to 10,000 euros RBB clarified.
This regulation aims to counteract the so-called “revolving door effect”, in which politicians can switch to professions fraught with conflict. Such a regulation does not currently exist in Berlin, making it one of the few federal states in which ex-senators do not have to comply with such requirements. For comparison: In Brandenburg, a waiting period of 24 months has been in force since 2016. This step could also help to strengthen trust in democracy, as cases such as the move of former construction senator Peter Strieder to the construction industry in 2004 should be avoided.
Regulations in a federal comparison
Overall, the experiences from the other federal states confirm the need for such a regulation. On average, the waiting period is five years, although individual countries have set different deadlines:
| Federal State | Waiting period |
|---|---|
| Baden-Württemberg | 12 months (18 months in severe cases) |
| Bavaria | 12 months (24 months in severe cases) |
| Brandenburg | 24 months |
| Hesse | 12 months (18 months in severe cases) |
| Schleswig-Holstein | 24 months |
The imminent introduction of waiting periods in Berlin is another step in the right direction. According to the plans, there should be no restrictions on employees in the Berlin administration in order to attract experienced senators to senior positions. The law should come into force before the House of Representatives elections in September 2026 so that citizens can have confidence in Cologne's politics, which can be followed closely here. Ultimately, this development shows that the course is also being set for more transparency and integrity in politics.