SPD is arguing with the government over a billion-euro rescue package
Created: 06/12/2022, 14:14
Thomas Kutschaty (SPD), parliamentary group leader.
© Oliver Berg/dpa/archive image
The opposition SPD in the North Rhine-Westphalia state parliament is demanding a parliamentary scrutiny for all expenditure in the struggle for a billion-euro rescue package to deal with the energy crisis and price increases.
The plenum and not just the budget committee of the state parliament should make the decisions about the use of funds from the special fund, said SPD parliamentary group leader Thomas Kutschaty on Tuesday.
Düsseldorf – He also called for a “certificate” from the Ministry of Justice for all budget plans that the measures were constitutional.
Kuchaty did not rule out a constitutional complaint by the SPD.
On Wednesday, the SPD would not support an application submitted by the CDU and the Greens at short notice to explain the financial emergency, said Kuchaty.
The justification for the emergency is incomplete.
Up until four weeks ago, the state government did not even see this as necessary.
The CDU and the Greens still owe the answer as to what they wanted to take out the loans for.
Kuchaty demanded proof that coalition projects such as heat pumps for households that had nothing to do with the current crisis were not being financed from the rescue package.
In addition, the state government must explain why the measures cannot be paid for from other areas in the regular budget - for example through cuts.
The state government wants to create a so-called special fund for crisis management.
Up to five billion euros in new debts are to be made for this.
For implementation, a second supplementary budget is planned for the year 2022.
Finance Minister Marcus Optendrenk (CDU) wants to draw exceptions to the debt brake in an “extraordinary emergency situation”.
The original plan to use billions from the Corona rescue package was dropped at short notice after the state audit office criticized the constitutionality.
dpa