Dresden (dpa / sn) – The left in the Saxon state parliament want to change the state constitution in order to create a special fund for social balance in crisis situations. It should have a volume of up to five billion euros, said the left-wing faction on Sunday. A change in the constitution is necessary because a debt brake only allows borrowing under certain conditions. According to the will of the left, the special fund should be managed and used by the Ministry of Social Affairs to relieve the population in the event of crises, natural disasters or catastrophes.
In order to deal with the current energy price crisis, the left had previously demanded a special fund of up to three billion euros. “The multiple crises of our time – in particular the corona pandemic and the energy price crisis – show that financial resources outside the state budget are required to enable all people living in Saxony to lead a decent existence and to relieve them of the consequences of the crisis,” said parliamentary group leader Rico Gebhardt . The state can and should use the legitimate means of borrowing.
The coalition parties Greens and SPD had also spoken out in favor of a special fund. The CDU has so far rejected this with reference to budgetary discipline and the legal hurdles. There was an exception to the ban on new borrowing in spring 2020. In order to finance the consequences of the corona pandemic, the state parliament authorized the government to take out loans of up to six billion euros.
