Debts suspended due to Coronavirus - Carnival club abandons legal action - Corona Funding Withheld: Carnival Association Drops Lawsuit
Aachen Carnival Club Drops Lawsuit over Unpaid Funding Due to Coronavirus Pandemic
The Aachen Carnival Club (AKV) has withdrawn its lawsuit seeking compensation for unpaid funding due to missed ticket sales during the corona pandemic. Initial prospects for success were dim, as suggested by the presiding judge of the Aachen Administrative Court.
Established in 1859, the AKV, known for bestowing the esteemed "Order against the Animal Seriousness" during the carnival, sought a payment of 100,000 euros from a federal corona special fund. The award ceremony for actress Iris Berben, which took place in February 2022, was a ghost event without an audience due to pandemic-related restrictions.
During court proceedings, FDP state parliamentarian and former AKV president Werner Pfeil emphasized promises of coverage for losses due to canceled carnival events. However, the online application form for the "Federal Special Fund for Cultural Events" did not allow for the entry of revenue losses. The cultural authorities of the states were responsible for managing and approving applications within the federal program.
The Cologne District Government representative explained that compensation for revenue losses was not provided through the program. The AKV's needs were known, according to the representative, yet consultations from the NRW Cultural Ministry were not responded to despite multiple offers.
"The ministry was really trying to find a solution," the judge summarized. The plaintiff did not make contact, leading to a lack of a justifiable claim against NRW Minister President Hendrik Wüst (CDU) for canceling carnival events in December 2021. After a hearing, the AKV representative withdrew the lawsuit.
During the Coronavirus pandemic, many cultural and carnival clubs across Germany faced financial hardship due to event cancellations or restrictions. While some funding applications were rejected due to eligibility issues or strict criteria, others were declined due to insufficient proof of pandemic-related losses, administrative errors, or prioritization of healthcare or business support.
In this specific case, the reasons for rejection and lack of compensation remain unclear, as specific data pertaining to the Aachen Carnival Club dispute was not available in the provided search results.
- The Aachen Carnival Club's employment policy may have been affected by the unpaid funding due to the coronavirus pandemic, as they sought 100,000 euros from a federal corona special fund for losses incurred from canceled carnival events.
- The lack of compensation from the "Federal Special Fund for Cultural Events" could impact the Aachen Carnival Club's finance and business operations, as well as their ability to fulfill their community policy and employment policy obligations during the pandemic.
