Spiegel: Merkel was suspected of wanting to create a “shadow department” because of equipping her bureau 
Merkel intends to create a “shadow department” after leaving office. Reported by the Spiegel edition.
According to the Ministry of Finance of the Federal Republic of Germany, nine people will work in Merkel's bureau after she is removed from office. The salary of the head of the office and his deputy will be 10.4 thousand euros, the funding of the body will be provided at the expense of unused positions in the Ministry of Defense. In addition, several assistants, secretaries and drivers will work in the bureau. It is noted that the work of the offices of former chancellors and presidents is often criticized in Germany. So, in 2019, the staff of such departments was limited to five positions, which are paid from the budget.
Lefts spokeswoman Gezine Letsch said the abundant furnishings in Merkel's office make it look like she wants to create a “shadow office.” According to her, due to this situation, suspicions arise that German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz is “head over heels in debt” to Merkel.
Earlier, the General Secretary of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) Lars Klingbeil called the timing of the election chancellor of the country. According to him, the SPD, the Greens and the Free Democrats expect this to happen before December 12. “We had an ambitious plan from the very beginning, and we did not deviate from it, we are still ambitious and expect to elect a new chancellor in the week after (St. that immediately after that the new government will be able to start work.
On October 26, Angela Merkel was handed an official notice of the end of the German Chancellor's office. It is assumed that this post will be taken by the leader of the SPD Olaf Scholz. His party won the September 26 elections with 25.7 percent of the vote. The conservative bloc CDU/Christian Social Union (CSU) gained only 24.1 percent.