Wüst advises mandatory insurance for natural catastrophes.
It's time to put an end to the inactivity, says Hendrik Wüst, NRW Minister President. He emphasizes the need to introduce a mandatory insurance for natural disasters, reminding Chancellor Scholz of his promise.
Wüst demands action from Scholz, highlighting Germany's fragile state in the face of extreme weather events like the recent flood disaster. "Rain is constant in Germany, but Scholz is yet to lift a finger. I firmly expect him to keep his word and introduce mandatory insurance for natural disasters," says Wüst.
"We must adapt to the new reality of frequent extreme weather incidents in Germany. Mandatory insurance for natural disasters would be the perfect financial preventative measure," says Wüst. He adds, "As Finance Minister and Chancellor, Scholz has expressed support for this idea before. It's about leadership, whether he can keep his word when handling flood disasters. The states are all aligned on this issue, now it's up to the traffic light coalition to step up."
The state leaders are set to discuss the possibility of a mandatory insurance for natural disasters with Scholz on June 20th. "Mandatory insurance for natural disasters would provide financial protection to many people, safeguarding them from economic ruin in an emergency. It would also be in the best interests of taxpayers, who are currently paying heavy damages under the present system," declares Wüst. "Yet another postponement is not an option after years of inaction."
Nevertheless, Haus & Grund, the property owners' association, opposes the idea of a mandatory insurance. "A mandatory insurance won't stop a single damage incident," says Kai Warnecke, association president. Instead, he advocates for protective measures like banning construction in high-risk areas and conducting a publicly available risk analysis. Despite this, Warnecke acknowledges the merits of mandatory insurance for natural disasters, noting how they can protect against devastating financial consequences.
References
- Ministerpräsident Hendrik Wüst fordert Verpflichtende Katastrophenversicherung ein
- Mandatärische Naturschadenversicherung: „Nichts verhindert ein einziges Schadenfall-Ereignis", kommentiert Vorsitzender des Hausgrund-Verbands Hauseigentümervereinigung
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Wüst references the flood disaster in Bavaria as an example of Germany's vulnerability to extreme weather events, urging Chancellor Scholz to fulfill his promise of implementing mandatory insurance for natural disasters.
Scholz's inaction in addressing the frequent extreme weather incidents in Germany, as pointed out by Wüst, has raised concerns about the federal government's commitment to financial protection against natural disasters.
Despite opposition from Haus & Grund, the property owners' association, Wüst maintains that mandatory insurance for natural disasters could provide financial safety nets for many individuals and taxpayers, reducing the economic impact of natural disasters in Germany.
