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Svenja Schulze (SPD): first Environment Minister, now Development Minister
Photo: Political-Moments / IMAGO
Three weeks ago Svenja Schulze (SPD) took over the development ministry from Gerd Müller (CSU).
Now the new minister accuses her predecessor of serious failure to finance development aid.
"For the coming years, development policy is dramatically underfunded," Schulze told the editorial network Germany (RND).
“That is a heavy burden, also for Germany's role in the world.
We have entered into long-term international commitments, for which there is not enough money, ”complained the minister.
"I wouldn't have wanted to hand over my house to my successor like that."
"The challenges for development policy are gigantic"
A first cash drop had "quite worried her," said Schulze. »At first glance, Mr Müller has made for a record budget. At second glance, the situation looks completely different, ”she emphasized. Müller had made sure that enough funds were available for his term of office. The medium-term budget planning is anything but sustainable. "That urgently needs to be corrected, otherwise there is a risk that Germany will not be able to meet important international obligations in the area of fighting hunger and pandemics or in supporting refugees," warned Schulze.
»The challenges for development policy are gigantic; the pandemic has dramatically worsened the situation in many of our partner countries.
For the first time in years of progress, absolute poverty is rising again.
We won't be able to do that with less money, «warned the SPD politician.
Svenja Schulze was Environment Minister in the grand coalition.
After the change of government, she remained a minister, but changed departments.
Since December she has headed the Ministry for Economic Development and Cooperation.
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