BUREAUCRATIC SCOOTER

PLOTS

Who would like to sit in the chair of Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov? No, I understand: thoroughly and for a long time - there are not so many who want it. And so, for a couple of minutes? See how he lives at work, and whether his desk is in order ... Yes, how ...

Who would like to sit in the chair of Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov? No, I understand: thoroughly and for a long time - there are not so many who want it. So, for a couple of minutes?

See how he lives at work, and whether his desk is in order ... But what kind of computer does he use? And in general, how is he? Look where he drinks tea and rests? (Not on TV, but personally.) The answer to this kind of rhetorical questions has long been recorded in Russian folklore: "We want something, but who will give it to us?"

And by the way, this is not such a rhetorical question ... Here in Bavaria, for example, they provide such an opportunity for fifteen years in a row. True, once a year.

Not at Fradkov's chair, of course, but at the local minister-president, Dr. Edmund Stoiber. I personally felt very comfortable there! I would have sat like that ... But all the same, I felt the responsibility of the moment and did not linger longer than 10 seconds. There are many who wish. People come in a continuous stream and want to take a closer look at everything: the table, the computer, folders, and photographs of Mr. Stoiber's relatives and friends. But, to be honest, flopping into a ministerial chair is an exception. German journalists asked for permission to photograph a colorful sightseer in a Bavarian national costume at the minister-president's desk; I follow them.

But everything else was considered together with the public, no longer in a hurry. And the offices of other ministers, and the reception hall, and the oval meeting room of the Bavarian government. For some reason, everyone strove to take pictures near the chair of the Minister of Finance. Fortunately, apparently ... However, what is there a chair!

With the Minister of Finance that day it was possible to talk personally. Ask him finally: "Where is the money?". And it was also easy to talk to the Minister of Health and the Environment. And with the Minister of Labor. And with the Minister of Justice. And with the Minister of the Interior.

And not to journalists, but to everyone.

From noon to six o'clock in the evening, the nine highest officials of Bavaria answered questions from ordinary citizens. Half an hour per minister. Plus a lunch break. I finally waited in the wings and decided, looking straight into the eyes of the Minister of State for Education and Culture Siegfried Schneider, to ask him bluntly: why the hell are they torturing children and forcing them to study in such heat? (For those who are not in the know: the summer holidays in Bavaria will begin only on the first of August and will last until September 11. Plus two days will be added in connection with the arrival of the Pope.)

It turns out that their tradition is like this - to strain your brains in the summer. Schneider himself, however, hopes that in August there will also be good weather. (No matter how! It always rains here in August.)

In general, it should be noted that a very nice comrade was simply tortured with questions. The topic of education for the Germans is one of the most serious. High school students kept pestering: why do they have to take so many languages ​​after finishing high school? Parents were worried about the workload and extra lessons in the afternoon. There was no stopping. The Minister of Agriculture, who was just sitting in line right in the same hall, even had to share a little of his time.

Can you imagine our highest officials in line to speak in front of who knows?

I didn't notice much security. There are two security guards at the entrance, and even then, it seems, only so that people do not crowd at the door, but calmly come in and out.

Here, during the speech of Edmund Stoiber, there were more guards. Yes, and he spoke not in a modest hall for ordinary meetings, but in the luxurious "Dome" crowning the building of the Bavarian State Chancellery - the former army museum, where, in fact, all these wonderful meetings took place on Saturday, July 15.

The government of Bavaria opened all its doors that day. And in the main building of the State Chancellery, and in the luxurious Prinz-Karl-Palais - a classicist palace, which since 1969 has been used for representative purposes by the Minister-President of Bavaria. Magnificent interiors, musical divertissement, an exhibition of the highest orders of Bavaria, modern prizes for cultural figures made from the famous Nymphenburg parcelan, a film about the history of the palace, books and booklets about the government of Bavaria - everything for those who are interested.

I think so: this Saturday, Mr. Stoiber's representational goals were achieved with incredible success. So many people were imbued with additional sympathy for the Bavarian government! Especially if we take into account the titanic work performed by the employees of the State Chancellery, organizing simply luxurious presentations of their ministries and departments. A sea of ​​information on all issues, films are shown, consultations are given.

Those who are worried about the health of the Bavarians offered their fellow countrymen to jump and run interactively on strengthening simulators. Those who are responsible for education and science presented unique educational projects, and held a math quiz for a snack. The winners each received a gorgeous soccer ball, each signed by my favorite Minister of Education, Siegfried Schneider.

And the Ministry of the Interior did its best... They put a police helicopter simulator in the court garden - everyone could engage themselves as a pilot with an instructor in a virtual, however, mode. And they could also ride a BMW simulator. They also talked about counterfeit money, let them check it for taste, color, and touch; explained what and how.

And this creative ministry has not forgotten about the children: it arranged a wheel of happiness for them. Win-win. You spin this same wheel and, depending on the color you have drawn, you choose a prize from a box of the same color. Gold prize - scooter! There was some happiness ... In short, connections are made here from the toddler age.

However, on this day, the German bureaucratic system (which, of course, like any bureaucracy, is not particularly open), talentedly talking about itself, demonstrated maximum transparency, amazing accessibility and, most importantly, the ability to dialogue with a variety of people. At least once a year...

PS Small detail. The main modern style-forming element of the building of the Bavarian State Chancellery are long covered galleries. These galleries are completely transparent. It is there that the offices of the high Bavarian chiefs are located.