The President of the Federal Audit Office, Kay Scheller, has criticized the use of the special fund as a “marshalling yard”. There is a risk “that funds will be used partly for existing programs or indirectly for consumption – contrary to the original goal of financing new investments,” he said South German newspaper. This includes both federal spending and the 100 billion euros program for the federal states affected. Leading economic institutes assume that 80 to 90 percent of the assets worth 500 billion would be misused.
In addition, Scheller, who is retiring at the end of May after 14 years, criticized the “petrification” of the federal budget. Around 90 percent of the federal budget is firmly planned, which is why “in times of crisis the only option is to resort to new loans.” Scheller therefore called for an improvement in state revenue through tougher action against tax fraud, illegal work and money laundering. According to Scheller, the shadow economy has a sales volume of 300 billion euros through money laundering around 100 billion euros annually remain undetected.
Election of successor Heveling in May
On the government spending side, Scheller called for new priorities. “We will have to tighten our belts financially and do without some things (…),” he said SZ. This requires a “common narrative that includes all social groups – not in a morally elevated manner, but with the aim of creating acceptance.”
Scheller’s successor as President of the Federal Audit Office is expected to be the current general counsel of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, Ansgar Heveling. He is due to be elected by the Bundestag in May.