The federal government has presented a huge aid package – but the federal government will still have to argue with the states about the financing. The most important points at the summit on Tuesday at a glance.
On Tuesday, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) will consult with the Prime Ministers of the federal states on financing the relief planned due to the energy crisis and inflation. The meeting in Berlin is primarily about demands from the federal states for more money from the federal government for local public transport, hospitals and public utilities and the acceptance of refugees.
There was massive criticism from the federal states beforehand because some of the relief measures also put a strain on their budgets and those of the municipalities, but they were not included in the development of the packages of measures.
The federal government wants to protect consumers and companies from high energy prices due to the Ukraine war with a package of measures worth up to 200 billion euros. The aid is to be financed through loans. The federal states expect Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his traffic light government to clarify the planned gas price brake and the financing of various relief measures.
Prior to the federal-state talks, Saarland Prime Minister Anke Rehlinger advocated a compromise between the federal and state governments to relieve the burden on citizens. “In this tangible crisis, we need a national solidarity of responsibility so that an economic crisis does not become a social one,” Rehlinger told the editorial network Germany. The SPD politician called for a further financial contribution from the federal government. With the financing of the 200 billion euro defense shield that the federal government announced last Thursday, the federal government is making “a bombastic announcement”, acknowledged Rehlinger. The Prime Minister of Rhineland-Palatinate, Malu Dreyer, also called for a “constructive discussion about fair burden sharing”.
The Social Association Germany (SoVD) called on the federal states not to block the third relief package. “We need solidarity between the strong and the weak and a joint effort by the federal and state governments,” said Michaela Engelmeier, chairwoman of the Funke media group. Four weeks have passed since the agreement on the package. “The federal and state governments must not settle their dispute on the backs of those affected.” She demanded speed: “The high costs of food are incurred every week.”
The federal states are demanding an increase in regionalization funds in order to expand public transport and to finance the planned 69-euro ticket. The states argue that the federal government finally decided to succeed the 9-euro ticket. The housing benefit reform was also enforced by the federal government, and the federal states are now demanding that the federal government bear the costs in full.
Offers of relief to citizens such as these result in the countries permanently higher expenditures, which add to the additional burdens caused by high energy prices and inflation.
Saarland Prime Minister Anke Rehlinger was already calling for more money from the federal government for the expansion of local public transport before the federal-state summit on Tuesday. Although she spoke out in favor of a compromise on financing, “nevertheless, a compromise should make sense and, for example, provide for a real strengthening of public transport,” said Rehlinger.
Before the federal-state meeting on Tuesday, North Rhine-Westphalia’s Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst called for reliable federal financial aid for the accommodation of refugees. “If winter comes now, if cold and wet get into the destroyed houses in Ukraine, then more people will come to us – have to come,” said the CDU politician to the newspapers of the Funke media group (Tuesday). “Their decent accommodation and care is one of the major tasks for municipalities and states. You need money for that.” You now need the follow-up regulation promised by the chancellor for financing refugee costs. The federal government must “acknowledge its shared responsibility for the refugees”.
Hamburg’s Mayor Peter Tschentscher (SPD) signaled his basic willingness to support the relief planned by the federal government, but also pointed out the burdens due to the high number of refugees to be taken in again.
