Financial package: federal states hope for quick agreement at federal level

Minister presidents of the CDU/CSU, SPD and Greens have appealed to those involved in the federal government to agree on the multi-billion funding package for defense and infrastructure. "Germany must be able to act and for this the Basic Law must be amended," said Michael Kretschmer (CDU), Prime Minister of Saxony, ahead of the Minister Presidents' Conference in Berlin. "And the saying remains: those who want to will find ways, those who don't will find reasons."

Saxony is currently chairing the Conference of Minister Presidents. For the first time since the federal elections, the states agreed on the results of the exploratory talks between the CDU/CSU and SPD for a new federal government and the planned amendment to the Basic Law for additional debt in the three-digit billion range.

"Doomed to succeed"

The Minister President of Rhineland-Palatinate, Alexander Schweitzer (SPD), said that he was very confident that the talks between the CDU/CSU, SPD and Greens on the amendments to the Basic Law could lead to success "if everyone moves and talks to each other in a proper tone". The starting position is: "This federal government in the making is doomed to succeed and that is exactly what must now characterize the talks in the coming hours and days."

The North Rhine-Westphalian Minister President Hendrik Wüst (CDU) referred to the importance of additional funding for the federal states. A "reconstruction of the West" was necessary, as the infrastructure from the period after the Second World War was becoming obsolete.

This can be seen in the poor railroads, roads and public buildings. "In this respect, it is absolutely essential that we organize a major investment boost at all levels of government," said the CDU politician. It is also important to form an "alliance of the middle ground with the Greens and to build bridges from a culture of discussion".

Tough negotiations are underway

The Minister President of Baden-Württemberg, Winfried Kretschmann (Greens), said that tough negotiations were underway and that this was the most normal thing in the world. "It's just not acceptable to think that the Greens will now agree to everything at the drop of a hat, nobody can expect that now," said Kretschmann. They are negotiating as fully equal partners. As things stand, a constitutional amendment with a two-thirds majority will require the votes of the Greens in the Bundestag.