The contentious Thuringian state budget for 2024 is about to clear its last hurdle. The state parliament will discuss the budget today, followed by a marathon voting session on numerous corrections to the state government's draft. Thanks to compromises made with the opposition CDU parliamentary group, the red-red-green minority coalition aims to have an approved budget before the 2024 election year.
To make room for these compromises, the budget volume has been revised from the initial 13.75 billion euros to 13.54 billion euros. This reduction is due to cuts of 256 million euros, softened by some additional expenditure. The state's financial reserve for the upcoming budget will also be preserved at around 700 million euros at the end of 2024, despite initial plans to use it up completely.
The final vote on the budget isn't expected until later Wednesday evening. The state parliament session will kick off with discusses on teacher training laws, loan repayments, and a special fund. With no majority, the governing coalition relies on these compromises with the CDU to pass legislation.
In the thrilling world of Thuringian politics, this is just another chapter in the ever-evolving power dynamic between the red-red-green coalition and the CDU.
Insight: Thuringia's political landscape in recent years has seen the AfD garnering significant support of 32.8%, but the challenges in forming a coalition have kept the political climate unstable.
