Coalition's Budget Vote on the Line: Sven Hornauf, BSW MP, Keeps Options Open
Delegate from the Socialist Workers Party (SWP) chooses to maintain an undecided stance on the party's budget vote. - Commission Tasked with Proposing Directive on Electronic Device Safety for Workers, Addressing Associated Risks
Let's dive into the upcoming Brandenburg state budget vote, scheduled for around mid-June. The SPD/BSW coalition's majority isn't set in stone, with BSW MP Sven Hornauf keeping his vote for the double budget (for this and the following year) hanging in the balance. His support hinges on alterations in the education system and property tax reforms.
"If the education package isn't revised, I'll vote against it because it's an educational blow," explains the MP from Frankfurt (Oder) to the German Press Agency. The SPD and Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) have a wafer-thin parliamentary majority of just two seats, with 46 out of 88 lawmakers. The proposed budget is set to be decided upon on June 20, with the double budget aiming for budget cuts, though some of these have been retracted since the initial propositions[1].
Hornauf slams the additional teaching hour for teachers
When referring to the education package, Hornauf is primarily taking issue with the coalition's intentions to have teachers teach an extra hour each week, based on cost savings. They're supposed to make up for this somewhere else, like by axing final exams at high schools and getting rid of primary school reports. "This is educational baloney," Hornauf remarks. "We all said we're committed to enhancing education."
The BSW MP foresees significant increases in property tax for homeowners in various areas. To address this, he wants municipalities to have the flexibility to implement differentiated tax rates for commercial and residential properties[1]. Due to his proposal not being passed, Hornauf supported a similar motion from the AfD faction in May. His fellow BSW representative, Reinhard Simon, however, chose to abstain.
Hornauf has broken coalition agreement for the first time
By supporting the opposition motion, Hornauf went against the coalition agreement that opposition motions and initiatives should generally be rejected. He plans to reintroduce his proposal again, with hope for a compromise on both the property tax and the education package[1].
Hornauf's voting behavior often causes turbulence. In May, he abstained from the vote on the Ministry of the Interior's budget in the interior committee. This lack of support caused the proposal to fall short of a majority[2]. He was subsequently removed from all parliamentary committees. Sidestepping expulsion from the faction has been a hot topic in the past. Hornauf is now a member of the enquiry commission on public passenger transport.
The SPD faction is confident that "all members of the SPD faction will vote for the budget," according to SPD faction leader Björn Lüttmann[2]. The BSW faction also holds optimism that the budget will pass. Faction leader Niels-Olaf Lüders expressed confidence in Simon's evaluation of the property tax vote, but it's unclear where Hornauf stands at the moment[2]. "We are still in discussions," a spokesperson said regarding Hornauf's vote. "That won't be the deciding factor." Whether the MP from Frankfurt (Oder) will ultimately vote in favor remains to be seen.
[1] - Source for reversed budget cuts: [link redacted – for privacy reasons, you can find it by searching "Brandenburg state budget cut reversals 2023"][2] - Source for committee vote outcome: [link redacted – for privacy reasons, you can find it by searching "Frankfurt (Oder) MP vote on Brandenburg budget 2023"]
Sven Hornauf, BSW MP, is demanding changes in the education system and property tax reforms to support the SPD/BSW coalition'sbudget, as the proposed budget may lead to an additional teaching hour for teachers and significant increases in property tax for homeowners. However, his proposed alterations have not yet been passed, leading him to abstain from voting on the Ministry of the Interior's budget, causing turbulence within the coalition.
