Warning about left-wing mayor: Union countries are threatening to withdraw money from Berlin

dpa | If a government is successfully formed in Berlin under the leadership of the Left Party, the Union-governed federal states threaten financial consequences. “If Berlin gets a state government that has anti-Semitism and hatred of Jews in its program, we will start a joint initiative, including on the question of who finances the capital,” said CSU state parliamentary group leader Klaus Holetschek after a meeting of parliamentary group leaders from the CDU/CSU-governed federal states in Munich.

On Sunday, the parliamentary group leaders of the CDU/CSU-governed states met with Bavaria's Prime Minister and CSU leader Markus Söder in the State Chancellery in Munich to exchange ideas. He had also spoken in the past about the financial consequences if the Left was able to form a government in Berlin.

On the one hand, this involves money from the state financial equalization system - Berlin is one of the largest recipient countries. On the other hand, the newly negotiated capital financing agreement must also be discussed again. This offsets additional expenditure by the state of Berlin by the federal government in the areas of internal security and capital culture.

Holetschek, the initiator of the meeting, went on to say that in times of federal political challenges, the states need close solidarity more than ever. "Politics must make decisions more quickly again and deliver effective results. People expect concrete solutions, for example in health, care and energy costs. This requires close cooperation across national borders in federalism and a good connection between governments and parliaments." A corresponding meeting is also planned with Chancellor and CDU leader Friedrich Merz.

“We want to be a pacesetter and an anchor of stability, provide political impulses and strengthen common values, personal responsibility and community spirit,” emphasized Holetschek. Topics at the meeting included the economic stabilization of the country and the upcoming social reforms, but also the importance of federalism.

The chairman of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group conference, Lower Saxony's CDU leader Sebastian Lechner, said that the Union has stood for the promise of “prosperity for all” for more than 80 years. This promise must be renewed. "Anyone who works must keep more of their wages again. This is exactly how successful politics will be measured. The reforms adopted in pensions, health and care must now be consistently implemented."

"The recent election results are an unmistakable wake-up call for the entire Union. Now everyone must pull together, act as one and create the conditions for a good life in the future," emphasized Andreas Bühl, CDU parliamentary group leader in the Thuringian state parliament. People's issues did not end at national borders. The CDU and CSU therefore wanted to join forces with the Union factions to “adopt successful solutions more quickly from each other and give our common concerns in Berlin more weight”.