Erfurt (dpa/th) - Instead of a lump sum payment for refugee accommodation from the state to the municipalities, there should now be a change in the law. The down payment of 2,500 euros per refugee considered by the red-red-green state government after a meeting with district administrators and mayors at the end of July cannot be legally implemented, the state chancellery confirmed on Tuesday in Erfurt. Criticism came from the CDU faction in the opposition.
State Secretary Malte Krückels said after the cabinet meeting that the government sees no other option than changing the law to pay out the money to the municipalities. The newspapers from Funke Medien had first reported on the collapsed lump sum payment.
For several months, a dispute has been smoldering between municipalities and the state as to when the districts and independent cities will be reimbursed for the costs of accommodating thousands of refugees from Ukraine, as promised.
According to Krückels, the government factions should now introduce the necessary change in the law to the state parliament. If possible, Parliament should decide in September. Regardless of such more technical questions, the state government stands by its line in refugee policy. According to Krückels, the Free State will do everything necessary to support the municipalities in accommodating and integrating the war refugees. "We pass on all the money that the federal government gives us."
According to the state administration office, around 26,000 war refugees from Ukraine have now arrived in Thuringia. At times, some municipalities did not accept any more refugees because there was a lack of accommodation.
The CDU migration politician Stefan Schard accused the state government of mocking the municipalities with empty promises. "The management of the refugee crisis is pathetic." The municipalities have been waiting for a clean financial solution for five months.
