Kretschmann disappointed by the federal-state round

Created: 04/10/2022, 21:20

Winfried Kretschmann (r, Bündnis 90/Die Grünen), Prime Minister of Baden-Württemberg.

© Caroline Blar/Ministry of State/dpa/Handout

The Prime Minister of Baden-Württemberg, Winfried Kretschmann, was very disappointed with the results of the federal-state meeting with Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD).

"I would have hoped that we would put a button on it, unfortunately that didn't happen," said the Green politician on Tuesday in the US city of Pittsburgh.

The states are too far apart from the federal government on individual issues.

Pittsburgh - So you could not agree on the question of a "cheap ticket" for local transport, said Kretschmann.

It makes no sense to introduce a cheap ticket if the states have to cancel trains at the same time because they do not receive so-called regionalization funds from the federal government.

Next week it will be clarified whether there will be an agreement.

By the end of the month, it should also be clarified how the federal government will contribute to the refugee costs.

Kretschmann said it was agreed that there would be a noticeable reduction in gas prices.

Electricity prices would follow suit.

There was agreement that companies, institutions and citizens would be noticeably relieved.

However, it has not yet been possible to agree on other things because the structure of the gas price brake depends on whether further aid is required for companies or hospitals, for example.

This must then be clarified quickly.

Kretschmann named money for hospitals, housing benefit and the assumption of refugee costs as central points of conflict.

The Green politician is currently on a delegation trip to the USA and has been digitally connected to the federal-state group from Pittsburgh in the US state of Pennsylvania.

In the past few weeks he had repeatedly insisted on more money from the federal government - including for local rail transport in the federal states.

dpa