After the first year in the black-red-yellow coalition, the FDP takes stock – and calls for more speed on open issues. Group leader Silbersack also criticizes the AfD.
Magdeburg (dpa/sa) – data protection posts, new procurement law, shortage of teachers – one year after the start of the black-red-yellow coalition, the FDP parliamentary group in the state parliament of Saxony-Anhalt is pushing for a speedy clarification of open issues. For example, the procurement law in the parliamentary procedure is to be changed again and bureaucratic hurdles are to be minimized more. “We will tighten that up, we have to tighten that up,” said parliamentary group leader Andreas Silbersack on Tuesday in Magdeburg on the occasion of an interim assessment of the coalition’s first year.
Among other things, the Public Procurement Act is intended to raise thresholds for the award of contracts without calls for tender. In addition, companies should have to provide less evidence for public tenders. In addition, in the future only companies that pay their employees standard wages will be able to collect money from public contracts. A country-specific minimum wage should apply to companies that cannot meet this requirement. Most recently, 13.01 euros were under discussion.
In addition, the FDP insists on a speedy appointment to the state data protection officer and, above all, makes the largest coalition partner responsible. “We are waiting for the signal from the CDU parliamentary group,” said parliamentary director Guido Kosmehl. Discussions continued within the coalition to fill the post. “We’re putting pressure on.”
In the spring, the election of the data protection officer in the state parliament surprisingly failed. In the vote, the coalition failed to get a majority for the preferred candidate, Albert Cohaus. Cohaus has managed the business of the state commissioner for data protection on an interim basis since January 2021, and as director he is his deputy. It is unclear why the coalition failed to secure a majority in the secret ballot.
The Liberals also want to focus on education in the coming months. A proposal for flexible working time accounts for teachers is on the table. “We are in competition with other federal states,” said Silbersack, referring to the shortage of teachers. Saxony-Anhalt could do even more at this point.
The group leader also commented on the protests against the rising cost of living in Saxony-Anhalt. The AfD uses this for political attacks on other parties, said Silbersack. People’s fears about rising energy costs are “completely understandable”. But the crucial question is how to deal with it. “I am firmly convinced that the AfD is not about solving the problems of people on the street in a solution-oriented manner, but about stirring up fears of destabilizing our society. And that is the core problem.”
