Hoff: Budget freeze must not affect SED victims
Thuringia's State Chancellor Benjamin-Immanuel Hoff (Left Party) has warned of the possible consequences of the federal budget freeze for the victims of the SED dictatorship. He expects Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) to ensure that none of those affected who are entitled to assistance from federal funding will be affected by the budget freeze, Hoff said after a cabinet meeting in Erfurt on Tuesday. "It is unacceptable that a decision on the federal budget should be made at the expense of those affected by the GDR dictatorship," said Hoff.
Among other things, the cabinet discussed a report on coming to terms with SED injustice on Tuesday. Hoff emphasized that the process of coming to terms with the SED dictatorship was not complete. He cited counseling services for former GDR children as an example. In the years 2018 to 2020, the authorities received around 580 telephone inquiries in this regard, and 180 people affected also took advantage of further assistance. The figures for Thuringia are "not insignificant", said Hoff.
The German Government's decision on the federal budget must not overlook the assistance for SED victims, as stated by Hoff. This historical injustice stemming from the GDR dictatorship requires continued support, as evidenced by the high number of inquiries and beneficiaries of counseling services in Thuringia.
Source: www.dpa.com
