Magdeburg (dpa/sa) - Saxony-Anhalt's Prime Minister Reiner Haseloff (CDU) has criticized the federal government's third relief package. It is true that the measures to relieve the burden on citizens are to be rated positively. "But the crucial shortcoming is that there are no adequate solutions for companies. Many small and medium-sized businesses and municipal companies in our country can no longer shoulder the high energy prices," explained Haseloff on Monday. The CDU politician called for a prime ministerial conference with Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD).
If entire sectors of the economy went bankrupt, there would be a lack of tax revenue for the social system, said Haseloff. Energy production must be expanded to meet demand, keep businesses running and jobs preserved. "Otherwise we endanger Germany as a business location, but above all what has been achieved so far in the development of the East." The prime ministers would have to talk about this together with the federal chancellor and also find solutions for sharing the burden between the federal, state and local governments.
At the weekend, the Berlin coalition agreed on a third relief package to cushion the rise in energy prices. She puts it at around 65 billion euros. Among other things, direct payments for pensioners and students, tax breaks and an increase in the standard rates for basic security and child benefit are planned.
