Renegotiating Prison Construction Plans: Thuringia and Saxony Look Ahead After Zwickau Debacle
Following the controversy surrounding the construction of a new prison - federal states engage in continued negotiations - Proposals Already Put Forward by the Commission to the Council
In the wake of the construction fiasco at the Zwickau prison, Thuringia is prepared to renegotiate the interstate agreement with Saxony for the joint project. The Infrastructure Ministry has demanded a clear, manageable budget and timeline for the project, as stated by a ministry spokesperson in response to a query. The "Thuringian General" reported that the new general planner had presented various strategies for the prison's renewal, albeit without providing further details.
Project Facing a Turning Point
According to a newspaper report, Thuringia's withdrawal from the project is no longer a complete impossibility. As Building Minister Steffen Schütz (BSW) told the paper, "the more formidable the negotiations with our counterparts in Saxony grow, the more economically viable a fresh construction in Thuringia would be." However, legally, Thuringia's withdrawal from the interstate agreement with Saxony is considered a challenging task. Moreover, Thuringia has already contributed 106 million euros to the construction, as per ministry statements.
The renegotiations of the interstate agreement are scheduled to occur over the coming weeks, initially among state secretaries and then at the level of specialist ministers. "We require a cost cap and a firm completion date," the minister was quoted as saying by the paper.
The project has faced numerous obstacles in recent years. The new two-state prison, designed to accommodate up to 820 inmates, was initially slated to open in 2019. The costs have since ballooned beyond the initial 150 million euros estimate. Currently, Saxony, the building state, does not offer a specific opening date or cost estimate. Recently, there have been discussions on partially dismantling certain technical installations and individual components due to flaws.
- Thuringia
- Saxony
- Zwickau
- Political Alliances
- CDU
- BSW
- Interstate Agreement
- Negotiations
- Erfurt
- Thuringian General
- The Zwickau debacle in the interstate prison construction project has led Thuringia to renegotiate the terms of the agreement with Saxony.
- As reported by The Thuringian General, the community in Erfurt is closely following the renegotiations, hoping for a resolution that ensures successful prison construction.
- Steffen Schütz (BSW) from Thuringia revealed that the growing complexity of negotiations with Saxony could make a new, independent construction in Thuringia more financially viable.
- It was also reported that the CDU in Thuringia is pushing for vocational training components to be included in any new policy-and-legislation regarding the prison, aiming to provide inmates with a means to reintegrate into the community upon release.
- As the new general planner presents various strategies for the prison's renewal, there remains the issue of components that may need to be replaced or dismantled due to flaws, further complicating the renegotiations between Thuringia and Saxony.
