Rhineland-Palatinate in focus: MPK chairmanship sparked millions in costs!

Rhineland-Palatinate in focus: MPK chairmanship sparked millions in costs!

Rhineland-Palatinate is getting ready to take over the baton for the chairmanship of the Prime Minister's Conference (MPK). From October 2023, federal state leader Alexander Schweitzer (SPD) will lead the ranks of state leaders and this will be his first term in office since 2009. Like that Borken newspaper reports, the MPK offers a valuable platform to represent the interests of the states to the federal government.

The first conference will take place in the Rheingoldhalle in Mainz from October 22nd to 24th, 2023. An important date that not only includes the planning, implementation and follow-up of the conferences, but also offers the opportunity to discuss with Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) in Berlin in December 2023.

Costs and challenges

The State Chancellery calculates a sum of over four million euros for the MPK chairmanship for the financial years 2025 and 2026. Of this, 1.63 million euros are earmarked for personnel costs and 2.5 million euros for material expenses. This has given the opposition plenty to talk about, like this daily news reported. Ten temporary positions are to be created, but these will be eliminated after the presidency ends.

The Rhineland-Palatinate Taxpayers' Association has already expressed concerns about the high expenditure and questioned the need for additional positions. This is defended by government spokeswoman Andrea Bähner, who underlines the increased demands: “The MPK chairmanship represents a major additional task.” However, this argument is not unanimously accepted. The opposition in the state parliament, especially the CDU and AfD, suspect that preparations are being made here for the upcoming state elections.

Focus of the term of office

Prime Minister Alexander Schweitzer has already set out clear topics for his term in office. The focus is on the modernization of the state and administration as well as the financial relationship between the federal, state and local governments. A decision on the design of the connectivity principle should be made by the MPK meeting in December. The goal is clear – to ensure effective and close cooperation between the countries.

In addition, Rhineland-Palatinate is co-hosting the German Unity Day celebrations in Washington, D.C. this year. An honor that further supports the application for the MPK chairmanship. The presidency will be handed over to Saxony-Anhalt by autumn 2026. It remains to be seen whether the planned changes and investments will bear fruit in the long term. One thing is certain: Rhineland-Palatinate has big plans and is getting ready to enter the next phase of political cooperation with a clear course.