The Baden-Württemberg state government has come under scrutiny after revelations that Premier Winfried Kretschmann's ministry spent nearly 100,000 euros (approximately $110,000) on professional photography services between 2020 and 2025. The expenditure was revealed following an inquiry by the Free Democratic Party (FDP), raising questions about government spending priorities during financially challenging times.
According to the state government's response to the FDP inquiry, Kretschmann's State Ministry alone spent 18,936 euros on photography services through the end of September 2025. The Green Party politician's office explained that these photographs serve multiple purposes, including press relations, public communications, online presence, social media channels, and various informational materials distributed by the government.
A significant portion of the photography costs covers documentation of official events and ceremonial occasions that are traditionally handled by the State Ministry. These include medal ceremonies, state visits, official reception events, and cabinet photographs. Ministry representatives emphasized that such documentation is essential for maintaining official records and supporting government transparency initiatives.
Other government ministries also allocated substantial funds for photography services during the same period. Economics Minister Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) recorded photography expenses totaling 16,224 euros through September 2025. In contrast, the Ministry of Science under Petra Olschowski of the Green Party showed the most modest spending, with only 1,017 euros allocated for photography services.
The spending patterns reveal interesting trends that correlate with major events and policy changes. During the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, photography costs in Kretschmann's State Ministry were relatively modest at 4,360 euros. The following year saw even lower expenditures at 3,574 euros, likely reflecting reduced public events and gatherings due to pandemic restrictions.
However, spending increased dramatically in subsequent years as activities resumed. In 2022, photography costs jumped to 19,230.15 euros, followed by a significant spike to 32,897.11 euros in 2023. The year 2024 showed a slight decrease to 19,925.87 euros, though still substantially higher than the pandemic years.
A spokesperson for Kretschmann's office provided explanations for the increased expenditures, citing several contributing factors. The higher costs were attributed partly to rescheduled events that had been postponed during the coronavirus pandemic, creating a backlog of official functions requiring documentation. Additionally, the ministry faced staffing shortages in the department responsible for online communication, social media, and website management, necessitating greater reliance on external photography contractors.
FDP politician Friedrich Haag criticized the spending levels, arguing that the State Ministry employs sufficient staff to handle photography needs internally. "Kretschmann has enough employees in the State Ministry. When external photographers are regularly hired in addition, something is going wrong," Haag stated. He emphasized that during times of tight budgets, even the Premier should carefully examine how taxpayer money is spent, suggesting that prestige photographs should not rank among Baden-Württemberg's priorities.
The controversy highlights broader debates about government spending transparency and priorities, particularly as German states face budget constraints and competing demands for public resources. Critics argue that such expenditures represent unnecessary luxury during economic uncertainty, while government officials maintain that professional documentation serves important democratic and administrative functions.
