Court of Auditors has reservations about aid package: audit
Following the Federal Constitutional Court's budget ruling, the Brandenburg State Court of Audit has renewed its concerns regarding the state's multi-billion aid package. The "repeatedly urged adherence to the budgetary principles of annuality and annuality have been significantly strengthened by the Federal Constitutional Court", the state's highest auditors announced on Wednesday. This also applies to exceptions to the debt brake. The "Märkische Allgemeine" previously reported on this. The Ministry of Finance announced that it would closely examine the consequences of the ruling from Karlsruhe.
The state parliament had declared an extraordinary emergency for 2023 and 2024 so that up to two billion euros in new debt could be raised via the Brandenburg package to deal with the consequences of the war in Ukraine. This will benefit local authorities, hospitals and daycare parents, for example. The Brandenburg Constitutional Court is already examining the aid package following a complaint by the AfD in the state parliament. The court had rejected an urgent application. The Court of Audit pointed out that the Federal Constitutional Court also considers a direct connection between the emergency situation identified and the borrowing necessary to overcome the emergency situation.
Ministry examines consequences of Karlsruhe ruling
According to the Ministry of Finance, the consequences of the budget ruling for the aid package and for federal funding are being closely examined. "The consequences for the federal government are far-reaching, and there may also be far-reaching consequences for the federal states and local authorities," a spokesperson said. However, they could not be specified at this time. The Federal Constitutional Court had declared the reallocation of corona loans to the federal climate and transformation fund null and void.
The Ministry of Finance emphasized that the state parliament had passed the aid package as part of a proper parliamentary procedure and that, unlike the federal government, no coronavirus emergency loans had been reallocated. The decision of the state constitutional court remains to be seen. The ministry is also examining the possible financial consequences of the ruling, such as the blocking of commitment appropriations in this year's federal budget. "It is not yet possible to assess whether and, if so, what impact their blocking will have on the federal states and local authorities," the spokesperson said.
Household finances may need to adjust due to changes in the aid package, as the Court of Auditors is monitoring its compliance with budgetary principles. The government's scrutiny of the aid package's implications for household finances is critical, considering the potential far-reaching consequences for both the federal and state budgets.
Source: www.dpa.com
