Woidke considers more money from the federal government necessary for refugees
Brandenburg's Minister President Dietmar Woidke is counting on the federal government to make concessions in the dispute over more money for the accommodation of refugees in the municipalities. "It's a huge financial problem, but also a huge political problem. And that's why I hope the federal government will give in," said the SPD politician on Monday ahead of internal consultations in Berlin. "The ball is in our court." The heads of state governments are meeting in Berlin in the afternoon for federal-state consultations with Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD).
Woidke warned that local authority services such as youth clubs and libraries would have to be cut back in order to finance the accommodation of refugees. "A system that breathes is important because it can also absorb the additional burdens placed on local authorities by the people who come to us," he said. The municipalities expected that they would at least not have to worry about finances in the heated political situation.
The Minister President said that the federal states - from Thuringia's head of government Bodo Ramelow of the Left Party to Bavaria's head of government Markus Söder of the CSU - had made a joint decision in October. "I very much hope that the federal government understands this signal and that the federal government will implement this resolution together with us today," said Woidke.
According to the federal states, the federal government wants to reduce its share from 3.75 to 1.25 billion euros. The federal states are not prepared to accept this. In a resolution in mid-October, they had demanded a lump sum of 1.25 billion euros and at least 10,500 euros per migrant.
Woidke emphasized that the reduction of the federal government's share from 3.75 to 1.25 billion euros for refugee accommodation is not acceptable for the federal states. He urged the federal government to understand the joint decision made in October and collaborate with the states to implement the resolution, ensuring a fair share of financing.
In light of the financial impact on local services like youth clubs and libraries, Woidke called on the federal government for more financial support to accommodate refugees, citing both the financial and political challenges associated with migration.
Source: www.dpa.com
