Wiesbaden (dpa / lhe) – Hesse’s Prime Minister Boris Rhein (CDU) has criticized the work of the traffic light coalition in the federal government. “We countries are currently experiencing a relatively poorly positioned federal government,” said the head of government at the German Press Agency in Wiesbaden. The alliance of SPD, Greens and FDP is very heterogeneous and often very divided among themselves.
“That doesn’t always make it easy for us in the federal states,” explained the prime minister, referring to the difficult and lengthy voting processes, for example for citizen income and the electricity and gas price brake. “I am concerned that what is being worked on and developed in Berlin often leaves a lot to be desired in terms of craftsmanship.”
However, the electricity and gas price brake will have an enormous effect due to the wide range. It is about private households, the economy, clubs and associations as well as universities and culture. “It really affects all areas of life,” emphasized Rhein. Hesse supplements the federal measures with its own state program, which also takes sport into account. Overall, it is about a sum of around 3.6 billion euros, which the state is spending on the relief.
The black-green state government has also built an additional buffer of 45 million euros into the financial calculation if the funds are not sufficient in some areas, said the CDU politician. In principle, he assumes that the negotiated volume of the nationwide aid package will be sufficient in the energy crisis.
At the same time, the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of the debt brake with a view to financing the extensive aid measures in the Ukraine and energy crisis. “For us Christian Democrats and for us in Hesse, the debt brake is not folklore.” The regulation has constitutional status in Hesse and stands for generational justice.
Rhein therefore confirmed the intention of the Hessian state government to comply with the debt brake for the next two years in the double budget that has yet to be passed. The tax estimate for 2024 is not yet available. According to previous calculations, however, this goal will be achieved. The Hessian state parliament wants to decide on the financial plan for the next two years at the beginning of 2023.
