Brandenburg Completes Appointment of State Secretaries

In a significant development for the Brandenburg government, all state secretary positions across various ministries have now been filled. This comes approximately two months after the formation of the new coalition government led by the SPD and the BSW.

Brandenburg's Minister-President Dietmar Woidke announced the appointments of Tinko Hempel and Patrick Wahl to their respective roles. Hempel will serve as the second state secretary in the Ministry of Finance and for Europe, working alongside Volker-Gerd Westphal. Meanwhile, Wahl has been appointed as the new state secretary for the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs. Both officials were nominated by the BSW, which has been part of the governing coalition since December.

With these appointments, the full team of state secretaries is now in place, allowing the government to focus on its agenda. Woidke expressed confidence in the newly formed team, stating that they are now ready to work diligently for the betterment of the state.

Hempel previously held the position of head of finances for the BSW group in the Bundestag, while Wahl transitioned to his new role after leading the BSW group's operations in Parliament since February 2024. Their experience in federal politics is anticipated to contribute positively to their new responsibilities in the Brandenburg government.

However, the appointments have not been without controversy. Members of the opposition have voiced concerns regarding the selection process. CDU parliamentary leader Jan Redmann criticized the situation, suggesting that the BSW is rewarding its long-time allies even before the upcoming federal elections. He expressed apprehension that the appointments might be a strategy to secure favorable positions for BSW politicians should they lose in the elections scheduled for Sunday.

As the new government settles into its roles, the effectiveness of these appointments and the government's overall performance will be closely monitored by both supporters and critics alike.