Kretschmann calls for a “general overhaul” of federalism

Created: 09/12/2022, 19:17

Baden-Württemberg's Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann (Greens) speaks at a press conference.

© Bernd Weißbrod/dpa/archive image

Combined with clear criticism of the federal government, Baden-Württemberg's Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann spoke out in favor of a "general overhaul" of federalism in Germany.

The federal states need sufficient funds so that they can carry out their tasks well, the Greens politician wrote in a guest article for the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung" (Tuesday).

Stuttgart - In the future, the federal government must find a new way of dealing with the states, involving them in its planning at an early stage and complying with funding commitments.

The head of government also demanded that there be an end to the creeping erosion of the powers of the federal states.

Kretschmann was also reacting to a previous article in the “FAZ” by Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP).

He had criticized that a financial imbalance had arisen between the federal and state governments.

Kretschmann contradicted: “The alleged financial policy imbalance that the Federal Minister of Finance is diagnosing does not actually exist.” The federal government’s support packages in the Corona crisis only caused the federal government’s negative financing balances to skyrocket.

“That was right, because the federal government has to contain major crises.” Structurally, however, there is no financial imbalance between the federal and state governments.

In the article, the Prime Minister criticized the fact that the federal government had not yet fulfilled the funding commitment for refugees who do not come from Ukraine.

The federal states are still waiting for the so-called regionalization funds for local public transport for 2022.

It should not be that the federal government orders, but the states have to pay the majority of the bill, wrote Kretschmann with a view to the successor to the 9-euro ticket.

Kretschmann also criticized the so-called Good Daycare Act: "First the federal government interferes in an original state responsibility, then the long-term financing of billions remains the responsibility of the states alone," he said.

"These now have to be "peddled" in Berlin every two to four years in order to be able to meet the correct, higher quality standards in childcare." able to solve tasks alone.

dpa