As of: January 29, 2024, 5:03 p.m
By: Bernhard Jepsen
Comments
Press
Split
The party celebrities at the SPD New Year's reception: (from left) district councilor Michael Asam, Florian von Brunn, local association chairman Ludwig Paulus, member of the state parliament Christiane Feichtmeier, district chairman Dominik Streit and Robert Halbritter.
© Bernhard Jepsen
Peißenberg - One thing has to be given to the local SPD: the comrades always manage to lure high-ranking party officials to their traditional New Year's receptions in Peißenberg.
Last year the SPD state chairman Ronja Enders was a guest, and this year the co-state chairman Florian von Brunn was presented as the main speaker to the around 70 reception guests.
The 54-year-old parliamentary group leader in the Bavarian state parliament did not give a purely party-political speech, but rather a differentiated and considered speech.
He drew parallels to the Weimar Republic.
It collapsed because democratic parties could no longer agree on compromises.
“Despite all the justified criticism of the federal government,” said von Brunn, the traffic light coalition’s performance is certainly impressive.
The energy transition would not be in Bavaria, but in Germany as a whole: “We are successful – without nuclear power.” In addition, despite the war in Ukraine, the federal government has managed to ensure that the gas storage facilities are 90 percent full : “Nobody has to freeze in our country.” Germany is also doing relatively well economically, as the statistics show.
The statement that Germany is the “sick man of Europe” is simply wrong: “Anyone who badmouths our country in light of the economic figures is not doing the country any favors,” said von Brunn.
However, the Union is relying on populism in order to come back to power.
No constructive suggestions came from the CSU/CDU.
Von Brunn struck a very thoughtful tone on the subject of “AfD”.
The shift to the right is a huge danger for Germany and Europe.
The AfD would destroy prosperity.
She wants to dismantle the welfare state – “as well as all subsidies for farmers,” as von Brunn mentioned in a subordinate clause.
The plans for remigration discussed in right-wing radical circles would reveal the true face of the AfD: “They are simply Nazis,” said von Brunn.
A “big task” is now to build a “bulwark against the right”: “Upright democrats are the best protection of the constitution.” And: “The welfare state is the basis for democracy.” In order for a community to function, all social groups must make their contribution – including the farmers.
Quotes from the SPD New Year's reception:
Robert Halbritter:
“
The fact that some district communities still have a zero in the refugee statistics is a powerful thing.
“
“
Voluntary work is a good job and important for the community
.”
Florian von Brunn:
“
We use a lot less coal to generate energy.
Even if Friedrich März and Markus Söder like to claim the opposite, the share of coal in energy production is at the level it was in 1959. I don't know whether people in Peißenberg like to hear that now
." (von Brunn, alluding to Peißenberg's mining past)
“
He's no longer in his right mind politically.
(von Brunn about Free Voters leader Hubert Aiwanger)
“
If Trump comes back to power in the USA, our only chance is a strong Europe.
“
Robert Halbritter, on the other hand, addressed local politics in his reception speech.
Peißenberg's deputy mayor admitted that it would be "very tight" this year to draw up an approved municipal budget.
This will probably not work without further savings in voluntary services and increases in fees and taxes.
A key reason for this is the high district levy, which hovers like a “sword of Damocles” over the 34 district municipalities.
The threatened increase from 54 to 55 or even 56 percent is due to financial “mismanagement” at the district level.
“District Administrator Andrea Jochner-Weiß doesn’t do her homework,” criticized Halbritter.
There are strong commercial enterprises located in the district, but those responsible cannot resolve the financial difficulties.
“That’s embarrassing,” said Halbritter.
The deputy head of the town hall referred to the hospital policy in the district as a negative example: “Decisions are made that are not conducive to health care in the region - and also fail to have the desired financial effects.”