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Visit to Stolberg near Aachen: Olaf Scholz and Armin Laschet guarantee the flood victims unbureaucratic help
Photo:
BERND LAUTER / AFP
A good two weeks after the devastating flood disaster, Armin Laschet and Olaf Scholz visited the hard hit Stolberg near Aachen.
Federal Finance Minister Olaf gave specific figures on the damage caused.
The SPD politician assumes that reconstruction after the floods in Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia could cost more than six billion euros.
Around this sum has so far been spent on reconstruction work after the most recent major flood disaster in 2013, said the Social Democrats.
But the damage in North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate probably exceeded the extent of what was then recorded in eleven federal states.
"We want to help everyone with the reconstruction, with the replacement of the damage - and that's also about billions," said Scholz.
What nobody can make amends, however, are the destroyed lives, the destroyed health and everything that the catastrophe has caused in the hearts and minds of the people.
"But what can be fixed with money, we will fix with money."
The course for reconstruction is to be set before the general election
Scholz and Laschet have also given the victims of the flood disaster quick and unbureaucratic assistance from the federal and state governments.
"We'll do this together," he said.
Laschet also emphasized the federal, state and cross-party approach to reconstruction aid in the disaster regions.
In North Rhine-Westphalia, 215 million euros have already been paid out in emergency aid from the federal and state governments.
Federal Finance Minister Scholz also announced that the Federal Cabinet would decide on Wednesday on easing for companies that would have to file for bankruptcy as a result of the flood.
This will be based on the measures taken in the coronavirus pandemic.
In addition, a law is to be passed before the federal elections to set the course for reconstruction.
Laschet pointed out that the Prime Minister's Conference of the federal and state governments on August 10th would create the legal requirements for the aid.
The Bundestag could then adopt the drafts in its last session before the election on September 7th and the Bundesrat would follow suit in a special session.
"And then everything will be secured for the next few years before the election," said the Union Chancellor candidate.
asc / dpa / Reuters
