Internal speech: Söder wants billions of funds in Bavaria - and no longer "Germany's Samaritan".

Created: 09/21/2022, 13:32

By: Florian Naumann

The Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder speaks in the Bavarian State Chancellery.

© Felix Hörhager/dpa/Archive

At the CSU retreat in the Banz monastery, Markus Söder gave a keynote speech - and according to the participants, he did not save on promises.

Bad Staffelstein/Munich – Markus Söder apparently wants to provide a Bavarian billion fund for the consequences of the energy crisis.

The Prime Minister is planning a hardship fund filled with up to one billion euros, reports the dpa, citing participants in the CSU parliamentary group retreat in Banz Monastery.

Söder announced this in his keynote address to his party's state parliamentarians.

Up to 500 million euros should go to medium-sized companies, associations or social institutions.

In addition, the development bank LfA is to offer companies in financial difficulties extended guarantees - in total up to another 500 million euros.

That will not solve the problems, but is a contribution to help Bavaria, said the Prime Minister according to the participants.

The Free State does not want to give up the debt brake.

Söder gives keynote speech: Bavaria as "Samaritan Germany"?

More money announced for teachers

According to the report, Söder also announced more appreciation for Bavaria's teachers.

After long resistance from the CSU, he announced a gradual adjustment of teachers' pay.

Starting with the next legislative period, the A13 salary level should be gradually introduced for everyone, starting with the intermediate level.

In addition, as a first step, there should be an appeal to teachers who work part-time to voluntarily teach one more lesson.

The reason for this is the staff shortages at many Bavarian schools.

A medium-term source of money in Söder's plans: cuts in Bavaria's payments to the state financial equalization.

A new lawsuit is being examined, Söder allegedly said in front of the exam participants.

"We are the good Samaritans of Germany," said Söder accordingly.

It can't go on like this.

It needs a cap and a maximum limit.

Bavaria bears around half of the total compensation volume, and payments have now risen to around nine billion euros.

In 2013, the Free State - together with Hesse - had already filed a lawsuit against the then state financial equalization.

After a reorganization of the financial relationships between the federal and state governments, the states then withdrew the lawsuit in 2017.

CSU retreat in the Banz monastery: Söder shoots against traffic light relief plans

Even before his internal keynote speech, Söder criticized the third traffic light relief package as "unfair".

"All finance ministers have unanimously decided that this package, which the federal government has launched, is unfair," said Söder in the ZDF "Morgenmagazin".

It is an “order at the expense of the countries”.

The federal government is cheating on the debt brake by making shadow budgets, Söder also criticized.

The countries should now be forced to co-finance something in which they have no say.

In view of the dispute over the Isar 2 power plant, the Prime Minister warned on the show that nuclear power would be discredited.

Bavaria's Finance Minister Albert Füracker (CSU) was no longer in Upper Franconia on Wednesday.

He got infected with the corona virus.

"Unfortunately, Corona got me after 2.5 years," Füracker wrote on Twitter on Wednesday.

"I only have mild symptoms and of course I go straight into isolation and work from my home office.

I'm glad I'm vaccinated!"

also read

Ukraine scoffs at Putin's "partial mobilization" - and hopes for German weapons and Merkel

There is rumbling in Putin's empire: after Kadyrov's threat, the Kremlin spokesman's response gives a deep insight

Söder immediately wished his minister "get well soon and a mild course" on Twitter.

Füracker had already taken part in the exam on Tuesday.

According to a spokesman, he already had mild cold symptoms during the day - but all tests were negative.

(

)