The head of the German Civil Service Federation (dbbf), Volker Geyer, has rejected calls for restraint in public sector appointments, instead proposing a reconsideration of past privatization policies.
Speaking to the “Rheinische Post” on Tuesday, Geyer questioned the completeness of privatizations within Germany’s infrastructure sector, encompassing areas like postal services, telecommunications and transportation networks. He argued the state maintains a responsibility to guarantee comprehensive service provision across all areas, suggesting civil servant status could be a justifiable means of achieving this.
Geyer voiced concern over a declining public confidence in the functionality of the German public sector. He cited recent polling data indicating a significant erosion of trust. “It is truly worrying. Last year, 70 percent of respondents in our citizen survey stated they had lost faith in the state’s ability to deliver effective services. We have recently repeated the survey and the situation has not improved – in fact, it has worsened” he stated, referencing data to be formally presented in September.