Budgeting Politics in Thuringia: A Compromise Reached
After weeks of intense negotiations, the red-red-green coalition and the opposition CDU parliamentary group are reported to have reached a significant agreement on Thuringia's state budget. The deal is nearly set, with minor tweaks still required, according to the two parties involved on Tuesday. This agreement followed concessions on various issues, including a homebuyer subsidy program.
The government coalition had raised concerns over a family support provision in the law that the CDU, AfD, and FDP had previously passed, aiming to lower the real estate transfer tax from 6.5% to 5.0%. As a compromise, the CDU agreed instead to regulate family support through a directive.
The red-red-green coalition lacks a majority in the Thuringia state parliament, which necessitated the search for a compromise. The budget negotiators from the four parliamentary groups had agreed on an allocation of approximately 250 million euros. This amount should be kept in the state's financial reserve, rather than being spent, to maintain a financial cushion by 2024.
The Thuringia state parliament administration has announced a plenary session for December 20, during which the state budget will be discussed and approved finally.
Additional Insights:
- Thuringia's political landscape saw a shift in 2019, with the Alternative for Germany (AfD) emerging as a major party, marking the first victory of a far-right party in a German state election post-World War II[5].
- The CDU has been a significant force in Thuringian politics but is currently part of the opposition in the state parliament.
- The red-red-green coalition, comprising the SPD, Left Party, and the Green Party, has been in power since 2019[5].
The specifics of the budget agreement, including a breakdown of funding allocations and policies, may not be fully apparent from the provided sources. Consulting more recent and specific reports from Thuringian state parliament or local news outlets can provide further insights.
