CDU sees need to review Brandenburg's billion-euro aid package
Following the budget ruling by the Federal Constitutional Court, Brandenburg's CDU parliamentary group leader Jan Redmann believes it is necessary to review the state's billion-euro aid package. On Tuesday, Redmann referred to the court's requirements, according to which credit authorizations must be recorded annually and the connection between the declared emergency and the measures must be described in concrete terms. "The standards that have now been defined are different," said Redmann. "We now have to take a very close look at this."
The state parliament had declared an extraordinary emergency for two years in advance - for this year and the next. This was intended to raise up to two billion euros in new debt for the Brandenburg package to deal with the consequences of the war in Ukraine. This will benefit local authorities, hospitals and daycare parents, among others, during the energy crisis.
Brandenburg has not reallocated any corona funds
Last week, the Federal Constitutional Court declared the reallocation of coronavirus loans to the Climate and Transformation Fund null and void. The Brandenburg coalition sees differences: it has not reallocated any coronavirus funds. It did not take up the proposal of the left-wing parliamentary group at the time to use unclaimed coronavirus funds. The Federal Constitutional Court only commented on debt-financed special funds.
The Brandenburg Constitutional Court is examining the exception to the debt brake for the billion-euro aid package in the energy crisis in light of a complaint by the AfD parliamentary group in the state parliament. The court in Potsdam rejected an urgent application - but a decision in the main proceedings is still pending.
The head of the CDU parliamentary group said that the ruling by the Federal Constitutional Court may make it necessary to separate the declaration of emergency for two years. The coalition had gone to great lengths to explain the connection between the funds and the energy crisis.
Consequences for federal subsidies for steelworks and refineries?
The SPD and Greens have no doubts about the aid package. "I believe (...) that, as a coalition, we have put together a package that will stand up to the constitutional court," said Ludwig Scheetz, Parliamentary Secretary of the SPD parliamentary group. Green Party finance politician Thomas von Gizycki said: "I don't see any problems for the Brandenburg package because it is still completely different."
However, the Green MP fears that the decision from Karlsruhe could have consequences for federal funding for the conversion of the Eisenhüttenstadt steelworks and the PCK refinery in Schwedt. The ruling will tear a 60 billion euro hole in the federal government's funding for climate projects.
In light of the Federal Constitutional Court's ruling, Brandenburg's CDU parliamentary group leader Jan Redmann suggests that the Household Finances of the state should review the allocation and necessity of the billion-euro aid package, considering the new standards defined by the court.
Despite the ruling by the Federal Constitutional Court, which declared the reallocation of coronavirus loans null and void, Brandenburg's coalition has not redistributed any coronavirus funds, preferring to keep the original allocation for its intended purposes.
Source: www.dpa.com
