Erfurt (dpa/th) - The negotiation marathon on the 2023 state budget between the red-red-green minority coalition and the opposition CDU has not yet brought a breakthrough. There are compromise proposals in some areas and approaches, "but there are still major differences," said the housekeeper of the CDU parliamentary group, Volker Emde, on Sunday when asked. Further talks are planned for Monday, and a special meeting of the Budget Committee on Tuesday.
The committee must give the green light so that the controversial budget, which so far has a record volume of around 13 billion euros, can be approved by the state parliament at the end of this week. Only then can a large number of the country's payments, which are not required by law, flow from January. There is a dispute over several hundred amendments submitted by the Left, SPD, Greens and CDU.
The CDU is demanding more money, especially for small municipalities, and wants the state to take fewer funds from its reserves. Ultimately, the aim is to push spending below the 13 billion euro mark, despite some additional spending.
From the ranks of the governing coalition, it was said that the CDU had presented a cross-off list with some "cruelties" from the Red-Red-Green perspective. "We are arguing about a low three-digit million amount."
The red-red-green minority coalition of Prime Minister Bodo Ramelow (left) is dependent on compromises with the opposition - usually with the CDU - on the budget as well as on other laws. The government alliance is missing four votes for its own majority in the state parliament. The government's draft budget has been before the state parliament since September.
