Ulm/Stuttgart (dpa/lsw) - The Confederation of German Trade Unions (DGB) in the southwest is pushing for a special budget worth seven billion euros for investments in the energy transition and social housing. DGB head of state Kai Burmeister told Ulm's "Südwest Presse": "I advocate a Baden-Württemberg fund that accompanies the energy and climate change announced in the coalition agreement." The fund should function as a special budget in which the state would have to assume guarantor liability.
The country needs a state housing association that addresses the major housing shortage. "We're talking about almost 3.5 billion euros for the construction of 40,000 social housing units. In the climate and energy sector, a lot can also be done with another 3.5 billion euros. Then we would be at a volume of seven billion euros, spread over several years can be invested," said the trade unionist.
Burmeister praised the federal government's special fund for the Bundeswehr in the amount of 100 billion euros. From this you can see that there are opportunities for investments if you just want to. The debt brake proves to be a brake on the future, so "creative, sustainable solutions" are needed. The main thing now is the political will of Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann (Greens). "He talks about a loss of prosperity that we have to adjust to. But that's the wrong rhetoric. It has to be about more justice."
Finance Minister Danyal Bayaz (Greens) has often advocated further developing the debt brake in order to make more investment possible. The Greens politician welcomed the additional money for the Bundeswehr. But on Twitter he also wrote on Monday: "I remain skeptical as to whether special assets are the best way."
