Critics slam proposed social spending reductions in the budget plan - Union's Policy on Social Matters
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Unions Slam Planned Social Cuts in Brandenburg Budget: Left Party Chimes In
Get ready for some heated discussions! An alliance of trade unions, social groups, and the Left party is firing back at proposed social cuts in the upcoming Brandenburg budget. "These cuts leave the less fortunate hanging out to dry," snarled Sebastian Walter, Left party's state chairman, following a protest demonstration in front of the state parliament. He laid blame squarely on the SPD and BSW coalition for these plans.
Although some spar plans have been axed, Walter wasn't satisfied. "Though some key cuts have yet to be scrapped," he growled. "They remain a thorn in our side."
The Alliance is particularly irked by the withdrawal of financial support for Tafels (food banks)—previously bolstered through the Brandenburg aid package, along with cuts to municipalities and insufficient funding for pregnancy counseling. With the state parliament due to decide on the double budget for this and next year at the end of next week, the coalition factions have removed some funding reductions for municipalities, care, and the Brandenburg Medical School.
Katharina Slanina, chairwoman of the Volkssolidarität Brandenburg and co-chair of the Left party in the state, warned, "The cuts have merely been delayed and will be passed on to municipalities in the near future." She pointed out that despite the sans-funding, municipalities will still need to make savings in 2026. Services within areas of educational assistance and, in particular, support for single parents will be in jeopardy, she warned.
On the defensive, Andreas Kutsche, BSW state parliamentarian, defended the budget: "We simply don't have any extra funds to spare, and it's a conundrum as to how we should proceed," he told the German Press Agency. "Regardless, I think we have plenty of promising initiatives and have also submitted scores of amendment suggestions." He also highlighted the inclusion of 200 million euros for investments in hospitals.
The budget has sparked protests. In May, thousands of demonstrators took to the streets to vent their anger about cuts to schools and daycare centers. In response to the uproar, the SPD/BSW coalition factions modified their plans, pledging to allocate more money than initially intended for substitute teachers and extended daycare hours.
The budget committee of the state parliament will debate the draft of the budget on Thursday. Before that, experts will weigh in on the merits of a proposed change in the legal rules for taking on debt in a crisis, to determine if it is compatible with the constitution or not.
- Social cut
- Spar plan
- Brandenburg
- SPD
- Social group
- Potsdam
- Budget
- Aid package
- The alliance, comprising trade unions, social groups, and the Left party, in Brandenburg, is critical of the SPD and BSW coalition's proposed social cuts in the Brandenburg budget,expressing concern over cuts to Tafels (food banks), insufficient funding for pregnancy counseling, and reduced financial support to municipalities, which could potentially impact services in educational assistance and support for single parents.
- Amidst the heated discussions surrounding the Brandenburg budget, finance experts are set to examine a proposed change in the legal rules for taking on debt in a crisis, to determine if it is constitutional and could potentially provide additional resources for addressing the social cut implications.
