For weeks, politicians have been discussing how the country can help citizens and the economy in the face of exploding energy prices. A proposal is now on the table.
Erfurt (dpa/th) – Thuringia’s red-red-green government coalition wants to provide a double-digit million amount as quick help for citizens and the economy in the energy crisis. One way to make this possible with the necessary speed is to expand the objectives of the existing Corona aid fund to this area, said the parliamentary group leader of the left, Steffen Dittes, on Wednesday in Erfurt. There are currently around 90 million euros left in the fund, 60 million of which could be used to help families or municipal companies in need, for example. The remaining 30 million euros should remain as a reserve.
The parliamentary group leaders of the SPD, Matthias Hey, and the Greens, Astrid Rothe-Beinlich, campaigned for this path with the opposition. Corresponding bills and motions would be presented to Parliament in the coming week. Red-Red-Green needs support for a change in the law on the so-called Corona special fund. The coalition lacks four votes for its own majority in the state parliament. Representatives of the opposition from the CDU, AfD and FDP were cautious. You have not yet received a draft law that could be examined.
According to Dittes, around ten million euros are to be provided as aid for citizens in need who can no longer pay their bills. The aim is to limit energy poverty, especially among families with children. “As a country, however, we are not in a position to set up a second social welfare system.” When it comes to relieving the burden on citizens, the federal government is required first.
In addition to emergency aid, the Thuringian fund could be used to support municipal companies, but also to offer help to clubs and initiatives. Dittes admitted that no talks had been held with the opposition on this. Nevertheless, he hopes that an agreement will be reached and money can flow this year. Red-Red-Green have done the preliminary work, but it is legitimate for the opposition to make their own proposals, said SPD faction leader Hey.
The chairman of the CDU parliamentary group, Mario Voigt, said: “We will take our time to look at it”. He got the impression that it was a quick shot by red-red-green. The spokesman for the FDP group, Thomas Kemmerich, made a similar statement. You should not wait for the next household to make help possible. “We share the concern.” However, it is questionable whether it has to be the Corona special fund for energy aid. The budget committee could also approve unscheduled expenditure. AfD parliamentary group leader Björn Höcke spoke out against the proposal from Red-Red-Green. First, the state government would have to put pressure on the traffic light coalition in Berlin, he demanded.
