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Ämterpatronage

patronage; filling of public offices based on political loyalty rather than merit

noun EM-ter-pah-troh-nah-zheh Rare

Origin: from Latin 'patronus'

Usage Note

Ämterpatronage is the politically charged practice of appointing party loyalists to public posts (Ämter). It is widespread in German state and local government and regularly criticised by reform advocates.

Examples

"Journalisten deckten systematische Ämterpatronage in der Landesbehörde auf."

Natural Translation

Journalists uncovered systematic patronage in the state authority.

Literal Translation

Journalists uncovered systematic office-patronage in the state-authority.

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