Investigation promotes retirement of an ex-district administrator due to disciplinary measures - Compensation measures are enacted to offset the job termination of a former Council member
In the aftermath of the devastating flood disaster that struck Rhineland-Palatinate in July 2021, leaving 136 lives lost, primarily in the Ahr region and Trier area, the former Ahr district administrator, Jürgen Pfoehler, faces disciplinary proceedings.
The allegations against Pfoehler concern a serious violation of civil service duties and a comprehensive failure in his duties during the flood disaster. The Interior Ministry of Rhineland-Palatinate, led by Michael Ebling (SPD), initiated the disciplinary proceedings.
Following an investigation, Pfoehler was informed of the result of the disciplinary proceedings in July of the current year. As a consequence, his pension has been reduced, with one-third currently being withheld. Pfoehler retired on his own request due to incapacity for service in October 2021, after being off sick since August 2021.
Olaf Langhanki, Pfoehler's lawyer, confirmed receiving a notice from the Ministry of the Interior on 8 August, ordering the withholding of one-third of Pfoehler's pension. Langhanki intends to challenge this decision in a possible legal proceeding, citing what he perceives as the "blatantly unlawful conduct" of Interior Minister Ebling.
Langhanki also accuses Ebling of conducting a diversion campaign and trying to shift blame for the flood disaster and its consequences onto Pfoehler. He claims that Ebling's public statements on the disciplinary proceedings are an attempt to shift responsibility and the failure of the then SPD-led state government in the run-up to the state election.
The Administrative Court of Trier will handle the disciplinary matter, following the Interior Ministry's preliminary pension reduction and disciplinary measures. This court is also the authority where Pfoehler can challenge the withholding of one-third of his pension.
The conflict also involves the CDU, as it is implied that they may be supporting Pfoehler in his legal proceedings against Ebling. It is worth noting that, in North Rhineland-Westphalia, 49 people died during the same flood disaster. One person is still considered missing from the flood disaster in Rhineland-Palatinate.
The public prosecutor's office dropped the criminal proceedings against Pfoehler in 2024. The exact nature of Pfoehler's actions during the flood disaster and the impact they had on the outcome of the disaster remain under investigation.
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