"In great concern for our country" is the title of the open letter to the head of government. Senders are cities and municipalities, companies and banks. They see "paralyzing sluggishness" in the country and warn that the country will hardly overcome the crises without reforms.
Stuttgart (dpa/lsw) - A broad alliance of municipalities and business has urged Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann in a fire letter to urgently remove bureaucratic hurdles and state requirements. In order to maintain the state's economic strength despite many crises, a "fundamental reform process" is necessary, write the heads of the municipal and business associations in Baden-Württemberg and the presidents of the savings bank and cooperative association. The letter with the title: “In great concern for our country” is available from the German Press Agency.
"Future Convention" is intended to remedy the situation
The "turning point" in the wake of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine is forcing the country to redefine what has priority and what can still be financed. "The time of unrestrained saddles on standards, legal claims and government benefit commitments is over," the letter says. Municipalities and business are calling on Kretschmann to convene a "future convention" "to initiate a change towards a modern future state with reliable and implementable commitments".
Politicians should put coalition agreements aside because of the crisis
City, community and district councils as well as representatives of the economy warn Kretschmann against carrying on like this and recommend radical steps. "Political answers found so far and the adherence to coalition agreements - the basis of which actually no longer exists - are preventing the state and society from achieving the necessary changes," the letter says.
Complaint about forced self-employment
The associations' analysis of the current situation is harsh: "If you look honestly, the state, business and society deal far too often with themselves." As examples, they cite the diverse requirements of data protection, the lack of efficiency in climate protection measures, excessive regulations in construction, complicated public procurement law or the requirements for small and medium-sized banks. "The result is paralyzing sluggishness and a perceived standstill."
Municipalities and business want to be "unleashed".
In order to overcome this, the legal framework would have to be made more flexible, state standards lowered and bureaucratic hurdles removed. The municipalities and the economy emphasize that they are not interested in "another crisis summit". Rather: "This future convention should rather be given the mandate of the legislature to formulate concrete proposals for such an encouragement and unleashing pact."
Kretschmann's reaction has been cautious so far
The initiative goes back to the president of the municipal council, Steffen Jäger, who had already declared in April that there had to be new political priorities in view of the crises. Many standards would have to be put to the test. You also have to prepare people for impositions. It was only on Monday that the head of the district council, Joachim Walter, took up the ball and asked Kretschmann to speak at the highest level about reducing bureaucracy soon. The head of government reacted cautiously. On Tuesday, the Green said: "To say, now let's set up a committee for standard dismantling, that's a bit bold." You have to find a format that deals with concrete measures right away. "I know we have to change something." But how that should go has not yet been decided. "We're still hard on our brains."
In addition to Jäger and Walter, the head of the city council Peter Kurz also took part in the letter. Also present: Christian Erbe, President of the Baden-Württemberg Association of Chambers of Industry and Commerce (BWIHK), Rainer Dulger from the Association of Entrepreneurs Baden-Württemberg, Rainer Reichhold from the skilled trades and Peter Schneider, President of the Savings Banks Association, and Roman Glaser from the Association of Cooperatives. They point out that they represent the 1101 towns and communities, 35 rural districts and around 800,000 companies, 50 savings banks and around 140 Volksbanken and Raiffeisenbanken.
