Millions are left unprotected by state governments in preparation for potential floods.
There's growing discontent in Southern Germany about the lack of progress in protecting against floods. While Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg seem to be making headway, other federal states have only used half of the federal funds allocated for flood prevention throughout the years - even after past disasters.
To put this into perspective, out of the 100 million euros allocated for flood prevention programs annually, only around 59 million euros were tapped into by the states last year. The Rheinische Post cites an overview from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture as their source. Funds are intended for renovating dikes, building overflow areas, and constructing flood retention basins and polders.
What's astounding is that even flood-prone regions haven't used all the money. For instance, North Rhine-Westphalia, where the Rhine's rising water levels during heavy rain can cause worry, withdrew just 1.8 million euros out of the 4.9 million euros available last year. The year before, North Rhine-Westphalia saw less than 10% of its funds utilized.
Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg steps up
On the other side of the spectrum, Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, which are currently dealing with the aftermath of recent floods, have withdrawn all their available funds. Bavaria received approximately 23 million euros, while Baden-Württemberg received 17 million euros.
The state election officer in Bavaria, Thomas Gößl, has acknowledged that the current flood will influence the European election happening on Sunday. Some polling stations have been relocated due to the flood's damage, and in certain cases, temporary town halls have been set up. Talks with representatives from the affected areas have shown that a fair election can still be managed.
To vote, you can head to the polling station on the day of the election. People who have already applied for mail-in voting can also vote in person with their voting card and a valid ID. Those missing or misplaced their ballot papers due to flooding or haven't received them yet should contact their municipality as soon as possible to request new ones and collect them. It would be most convenient to complete the postal vote on site - for example, filling out the ballot paper at the municipality and then handing it back. The Bavarian State Election Officer, Gößl, will issue new ballot papers if requested before 12 noon on Saturday. The European election is only one of several events taking place on Sunday in Bavaria, alongside a county council election, five mayoral elections, and 14 citizen initiatives.
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- Despite the million-euro annual allocation for flood prevention by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, millions of euros remain untouched by several states, leaving them vulnerable to potential floods and tidal waves.
- The lack of investments in flood defenses is a source of frustration in regions like North Rhine-Westphalia, which has only used a fraction of its allocated funds for flood prevention programs, despite being at risk due to the Rhine's rising water levels.
- In contrast, the flood-affected states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg have fully utilized their allocated funds, indicating a serious approach towards flood protection and preparedness.
- The upcoming European elections are also set to take place in Bavaria, where the logistics have been affected by the recent floods, leading to relocated polling stations and temporary town halls to ensure a fair vote.
- While addressing the flood issue, it's worth noting that other critical events, such as county council elections, mayoral elections, and citizen initiatives, will also be held on the same day in Bavaria.
