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Scholz wants to help hoteliers and restaurant operators

2020-04-19T02:28:10.044Z


The Corona crisis has hit the catering and hotel industry very hard. The industry warns of the risk of bankruptcy - the federal government signals willingness to help.


The Corona crisis has hit the catering and hotel industry very hard. The industry warns of the risk of bankruptcy - the federal government signals willingness to help.

Berlin (AP) - Federal Minister of Finance Olaf Scholz (SPD) holds out the prospect of financial support for hoteliers and restaurant operators particularly affected by the ongoing closure in the corona pandemic.

"Of course, we look closely to see whether and where we need additional help. We have a particular focus on those sectors for which things are not getting off to a quick start. The hotel and restaurant industry is certainly one of them," said Scholz of "Welt am Sunday".

Federal Minister of Economics Peter Altmaier (CDU) said the "Bild am Sonntag" with regard to the situation of the catering industry in the Corona crisis: "And it is clear that we will also need additional help here so that a large part of the companies do not give up and Market disappears ".

The Bavarian Prime Minister and CSU Chairman Markus Söder insists that the value added tax for hotels and restaurants will be reduced to seven percent. He also told the "Passauer Neue Presse" (Saturday): "If we are lucky, Pentecost could offer a better perspective for the hotel and catering sector. We have to decide that at the right time." The hotel and catering industry has been unsuccessfully pushing for uniform and lower VAT rates for years. Altmaier called the drop to seven percent a "proposal that deserves careful consideration". "But I could also imagine concrete help with modernization and cost savings."

According to "Bild am Sonntag", the German Hotel and Restaurant Association (Dehoga) warned that around 223,000 companies in the industry lost around EUR 10 billion in sales by the end of April. "Without additional government support, every third company is facing bankruptcy," Dehoga chief executive Ingrid Hartges told the newspaper. "These are 70,000 often owner-managed companies that make up the gastronomic diversity of our country."

The left in the Bundestag calls for government aid to be expanded for small companies and the self-employed in order to compensate for their living expenses. This is the only way to prevent a wave of bankruptcies at small companies such as pubs, restaurants and cafés, said the chairman of the left-wing group, Dietmar Bartsch, the editorial network Germany (RND / Sonntag). "The help for small businesses and the self-employed was important, but it is incomplete and often does not provide a living," said Bartsch.

According to Finance Minister Scholz, a later stimulus package should include tax incentives for companies to invest, so that "anyone who is still hesitant can quickly take the money in hand". In addition, there could be steps to "fuel the citizens' enthusiasm for consumption," said the Vice Chancellor. He also spoke in favor of tax increases for those on very high incomes: "If entrepreneurs big and small are now happy that the state is able to support them in the difficult situation, understanding of measures that deal with justice in the Tax system have to be bigger in the new age of solidarity. "

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2020-04-19

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