Ramelow in favor of further meeting with CDU leader on budget
Minister President Bodo Ramelow (Left Party) wants to offer the leader of the opposition in the state parliament, CDU parliamentary group leader Mario Voigt, further talks on the 2024 state budget. Ramelow was responding to a letter from Voigt, State Chancellery Minister Benjamin-Immanuel Hoff (Left Party) said in Berlin on Tuesday. In the letter, which is available to the German Press Agency, the CDU politician demands significant corrections to the government's draft budget through a so-called supplementary bill. However, he also signals a willingness to talk.
Ramelow's red-red-green minority government is dependent on votes from the opposition if it wants to get the budget for the 2024 election year through the state parliament. Hoff did not reject a supplementary bill in principle. "There is no reason to rule anything out." There was also such a procedure in 2022. According to the Head of the State Chancellery, it is important that agreements are made on the budget.
In the letter, Voigt reiterates his criticism of the complete dissolution of the state's reserves to finance record expenditure of around 13.8 billion euros in the coming year. This is unacceptable. "The CDU parliamentary group wants Thuringia to remain capable of acting." This considerable shortfall in the budget would have to be eliminated.
In addition, the financial effects of the refugee compromise between the federal and state governments, the tax estimate and the property tax reduction in Thuringia initiated by the CDU have been taken into account in the budget correction. The letter expresses the expectation that Ramelow's minority government will "take up or support proposals from the opposition". The red-red-green coalition is four votes short in the state parliament.
The Government, led by Minister President Ramelow, is in need of support from the opposition to pass the 2024 state budget due to their minority status. In his letter, CDU parliamentary group leader Mario Voigt demands budget corrections and signals a willingness for talks, aiming to preserve the Household of Thuringia's ability to act.
Source: www.dpa.com
