Comment: A never-ending horror – Galeria has just gained some time

The decision to pay insolvency money is good news for employees. But that doesn't change the poor outlook for the department store group.

Anyone who has been following the drama surrounding Galeria for years would wish that those involved would simply take a saying to heart, no matter how trite it is: But in the case of the department store group, after four bankruptcies in six years, an end with horror would now simply make more sense than horror without end.

But again management, donors and employees have managed to get some breathing room. The Federal Employment Agency approved insolvency benefits for the employees. The authority will pay the wages and salaries of employees in the 83 branches until the end of the year.

That wasn't a given. After all, Galeria has not yet completely completed the final procedure. Bankruptcy experts have advised against this. And the Federal Agency took its time with its verdict.

This is of course good news for the employees and also for insolvency administrator Frank Kebekus, who now has three months to decide on the future of Galeria.

But ultimately the company's infirmity will only be prolonged. When a company has to file for insolvency proceedings every two years, when so many rescue procedures have failed, the bitter realization must finally prevail: the market and customers simply no longer need Galeria and the classic department stores.