Düsseldorf (dpa / lnw) - SPD opposition leader in the North Rhine-Westphalia state parliament, Thomas Kutschaty, has accused Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst (CDU) of failure and chaos in the provision of crisis aid for the state. The black-green state government has been failing for months to launch its own package of measures against the energy price crisis, said Kuchaty on Tuesday in the state parliament's budget debate. The aid against the energy crisis was initially delayed, then promised for December and finally put off again. "Not a cent will reach people, clubs or municipalities this year," said the SPD parliamentary group leader. "It's a mess."
The debt-financed special fund of up to five billion euros planned by Black-Green is not constitutional and poorly justified. The first tranche from the special fund in the amount of 1.6 billion is "a sham," said Kuchaty. It contains funds for IT security at universities or millions for a siren funding program. This means that no energy bills are paid during the crisis and no job is secured. Purchases for an alternative seat of the state government or pickup vehicles also belong - if at all - in the regular budget, but not in a crisis program. "This is just an attempt to simulate the ability to act when in reality there is only helplessness."
In particular, Kuchaty accused Prime Minister Wüst of lacking competence in crisis management. "The government declares the emergency - and the Prime Minister disappears." The only thing you get from Wüst at any time are "beautiful pictures". "You are an Insta president, but not a prime minister," said Kuchaty, referring to the popular social media platform Instagram.
After several U-turns, the state parliament wanted to launch the 1.6 billion euro aid package to cushion the economic consequences of the Ukraine war on Tuesday with the majority of the government factions. The funds are the first tranche from the debt-financed "Special Fund for Crisis Management". The state parliament will only vote on both packages on Wednesday in a special session scheduled at short notice. Contrary to what was planned, the aid will not flow until 2023.
