State government - Budget 2024: Negotiations for around 250 million euros
In the search for a compromise for the 2024 Thuringian state budget, the budget politicians of the red-red-green parliamentary groups and the opposition CDU parliamentary group are now in demand. A figure of around 250 million euros is still being negotiated, according to a meeting between CDU parliamentary group leader Mario Voigt and Minister President Bodo Ramelow (Left Party) on the sidelines of the state parliament session in Erfurt on Thursday.
The money should not be used to finance the record budget of 13.8 billion euros presented by the government, but should remain in the state's financial reserves for emergencies. This should not be empty at the end of 2024, as planned by the government, but should still contain around 500 million euros. In addition to the 250 million euros currently being sought in the budget, this includes 250 million euros that are not expected to be spent in 2023.
Preliminary decision in mid-December
According to information from the parliamentary groups, the state parliament's budget committee is to deal with the correction requests on December 14, thus paving the way for the figures to be adopted on December 21. The CDU faction had insisted on real savings in the government draft.
The talks between Ramelow and Voigt, the second within a week, were partly held in large groups. In addition to Finance Minister Heike Taubert (SPD) and CDU budget officer Volker Emde, the parliamentary group chairmen of the Left Party, Steffen Dittes, the Greens, Astrid Rothe-Beinlich, and SPD parliamentary group vice-chairman Lutz Liebscher also took part.
Forced to compromise
Ramelow's red-red-green coalition must seek a compromise with the opposition CDU because it does not have its own majority in the state parliament. In previous years, there have also been tough talks and concessions from the red-red-green coalition in order for a budget to be passed. In 2022, the CDU parliamentary group finally abstained and allowed the budget to pass.
After the first meeting, the CDU demanded, among other things, an amount of up to 60 million euros to continue a state program for small municipalities. In addition, the capital stock of the state development bank is to be increased by 50 million euros so that it can grant more low-interest loans to the economy. As the largest opposition faction in the state parliament, the CDU is also demanding that there should be no increase in jobs in the state civil service, with the exception of areas such as the police and teachers.
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- Despite the CDU's opposition, Minister President Bodo Ramelow (Left Party) and his red-red-green coalition have been forced to seek a compromise for the 2024 Thuringian state budget.
- The opposition CDU parliamentary group, led by Mario Voigt, is actively participating in the negotiations for around 250 million euros, aiming to avoid depleting the state's financial reserves by the end of 2024.
- In the search for a compromise, the state parliament's budget committee will discuss correction requests on December 14, paving the way for the figures to be adopted on December 21.
- Bodo Ramelow, the State government, and the opposition CDU are currently discussing issues such as the allocation of funds for a state program for small municipalities and increasing the capital stock of the state development bank.
- In previous years, the red-red-green coalition had to make concessions to the CDU in order to pass the budget, with the CDU parliamentary group finally abstaining in 2022.
- As the largest opposition faction in the State parliament, the CDU is also demanding no increase in jobs in the state civil service, excluding sectors like the police and teachers.
- This year's negotiations between Bodo Ramelow and Mario Voigt are the second within a week and involve key figures from the SPD, Left Party, Greens, and CDU.
Source: www.stern.de
