World
Baden-Württemberg: Public media center dissolved over inappropriate spending practices
An audit report presented on July 20, 2026 by the Landesrechnungshof, Baden-Württemberg's regional audit office, has triggered the dissolution of the Landesmedienzentrum (LMZ), a public institution with 350 employees and an annual budget of approximately €30 million, operating under the state education ministry's supervision. Auditors identified practices deemed entirely inappropriate for public administration: a video studio costing €1.2 million—twice the budgeted amount—cryptocurrency purchases totaling €33,000 for purported testing purposes, and an oversized vehicle fleet. Staff allocated only 30% of their working time to core responsibilities.