Scandal in the Ebersberg district: District Administrator Niedergesäß under pressure!

Scandal in the Ebersberg district: District Administrator Niedergesäß under pressure!

Tempers are boiling in the Ebersberg district because the government of Upper Bavaria has properly reprimanded District Administrator Robert Niedergesäß (CSU) for various solo efforts. Some time ago we could be happy about the Niedergesäß projects, but now there is strong criticism, especially from the AfD. Christoph Birghan, member of the Bundestag and AfD district chairman, is demanding loudly sueddeutsche.de the resignation of Niedergesäß and expresses surprise at the protection he enjoys from the political majority in the district.

The allegations are serious: Niedergesäß is said to have cost the district around 350,000 euros as a result of a failed legal dispute over the Kirchseeon high school. But that's just the tip of the iceberg. An additional 1.4 million euros were spent on coaching software that is viewed as “virtually useless”. Both decisions were made by Niedergesäß alone, without consulting the district council. Birghan criticizes the political majority made up of the CSU, FDP, SPD and Free Voters, which voted for subsequent absolution, and emphasizes that it is not the law but the person of the district administrator that is being protected here.

Expensive investments and disappointed expectations

Upon closer inspection, it turns out that the 1.4 million euros for the coaching software “sdp” (skills development platform) were largely wasted. Many employees of the district office had hoped for more from the program and felt disappointed merkur.de reported.

The CEO of Baldham-based Skills Development Solutions, which developed the software, defends his product, citing positive feedback from select teams, while evaluation of the program only shows that less than 5% of the workforce used it. The district administrator admits that the software did not provide added value and announced that it would significantly reduce the funding for the project. In addition, high turnover among managers in the district office is a cause for concern, as several senior employees, including the head of youth and family affairs and the head of the youth welfare office, have left the office in recent months.

Political consequences and public perception

The Greens, meanwhile, criticize the fact that the district council was not informed about the expenditure of 1.4 million euros and Niedergesäß admits that this was a mistake. The Green district councilor Benedikt Mayer made it clear that there would only be clarity about the expenditure in spring 2023, which led to further frustration.

These cases are part of a larger problem that is evident in many communities: according to the Black book Inadequate planning and incorrect assessments lead to cost explosions for projects, which are then ultimately paid for with taxpayers' money. The taxpayer has a right to transparency and economical use of public money.

In summary, it remains to be seen how the situation around Niedergesäß will develop further. The demand for a resignation could not only shake the political landscape in Ebersberg, but also once again raise the question of how responsibly taxpayers' money is handled in the country.