The office of data protection officer has not been filled in Saxony-Anhalt for years. There could be another attempt in the state parliament in autumn. What are the plans?
Magdeburg (dpa/sa) - The SPD parliamentary group is pushing for a quick solution to the appointment of the data protection officer in Saxony-Anhalt after the parliamentary summer break. "I hope that we will have a joint answer as a coalition in the fall," said parliamentary group leader Katja Pähle of the German Press Agency. "We're having talks, we're counting on gaining knowledge over the summer break."
The SPD parliamentary group is behind the candidate who did not receive a majority in the election process in March. "My group supports Mr. Cohaus' application. We have to come to a conclusion as soon as possible," said Pähle.
In the spring, the election of the data protection officer in the state parliament surprisingly failed. In the vote, the black-red-yellow coalition did not get a majority for the favored candidate Albert Cohaus. He received only 46 votes, 49 would have been necessary. The coalition has 56 seats. Cohaus has managed the business of the state commissioner for data protection on an interim basis since January 2021, and as director he is his deputy.
It is unclear why the coalition failed to secure a majority in the secret ballot. It can be heard that Cohaus is said not to have convinced everyone when he was presented in the state parliament and that parts of the CDU parliamentary group would rather fill the post with their own candidate.
"We continue to push the pace and will also insist in the coalition that we head for a solution there in September," said FDP parliamentary group leader Andreas Silbersack. It is difficult to represent nationwide if the state of Saxony-Anhalt is not able to present a data protection officer for years.
Sections of the opposition offer support to the coalition. One is ready to talk, said Left Party leader Eva von Angern. "We won't fail if there is a good candidate for this position. We have an interest in the agency working well."
AfD and Greens, however, see black, red and yellow as responsible. "We're not helping the coalition out of trouble," said AfD faction leader Oliver Kirchner. Green parliamentary group leader Cornelia Lüddemann said: "I have no idea how the coalition wants to solve this. It obviously doesn't have its own majority on the matter. And if you don't talk to us, then there won't be any cooperation on absolutely essential issues. "
