Decision Reached: Coalition Approves Probationary Budget
Brand new budget, same old chaos
Potsdam - The Brandenburg budget is now official, but the SPD/BSW coalition's narrow parliamentary majority didn't stop the controversial cuts from causing a stir. The double budget for this and next year passed with a majority vote, leaving teachers, educators, parents, and others protesting against the cuts in despair.
The Rosa-Luxemburg School in Potsdam lead the charge, protesting against the austere savings plans outside the parliament with the action "Empty Chairs - Missing Future." The inclusive school fears the cuts could have detrimental effects on care. Finance Minister Robert Crumbach (BSW) defended the budget, pointing to the economic crisis as a reason for the measures.
Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke (SPD) seemed satisfied with the outcome. "It's a narrow majority in the state parliament, and you always go into the vote with a certain tension," he said to RBB, "but I believe that we have now passed a good budget." However, coalitions don't always stick together, as BSW member Sven Hornauf, who had unsuccessfully demanded changes, turned against the coalition.
A Tough Balance
The budget means fewer teacher positions in the schools, with teachers teaching an additional hour per week, but at the expense of other relief. Crumbach insists this doesn't equate to a cut, as school spending this year will increase by around 180 million euros to 1.96 billion euros. To counter criticism, the coalition factions of SPD and BSW have withdrawn cuts for municipalities, care, family centers, and the Medical University of Brandenburg, offering more financial support for substitute teachers in schools, daycare centers, and roads. More money is also allocated to hospitals, police, and roads.
However, the budget is far from popular, with criticism coming from all sides. AfD parliamentary group leader Hans-Christoph Berndt accused the coalition of poor money management, while CDU finance politician Steeven Bretz warned of overwhelming future burdens, estimating 200 to 300 million euros per year for repayment.
Crumbach defended the debts, emphasizing the need to avoid worsening the economic crisis through misguided austerity. He also pointed to a new rule regarding loans in economic crises, extending the comparison period for calculation to ten years, which would allow for more potential borrowing.
Opposition's Hiss and Boo
The opposition argued the coalition was sacrificing Brandenburg's future, feeling the coalition lacked a clear sense of direction. The Left accused the coalition of neglecting essential services, while the Greens felt the coalition was drifting without a compass. The League of Free Welfare Associations also criticized the lack of improvements to funding for pregnancy conflict counseling.
Brandenburg represents an important piece of the German economic puzzle, contributing about €88.8 billion to the national GDP, or 2.3% of Germany's total GDP. The region has suffered clear evidence of budget cuts in the Berlin-Brandenburg region, like Berlin ending publicly funded bike sharing due to financial difficulties. As Germany revised its economic growth forecast for 2025 down to zero, it's clear that the economic environment is challenging, and state budgets such as Brandenburg’s are feeling the strain.
In the end, Brandenburg's 2025 budget is marked by controversial spending cuts, increased borrowing, and widespread criticism. The region is grappling with balancing fiscal constraints while maintaining essential services, all against the backdrop of a sluggish national economic outlook.
Finance Minister Robert Crumbach's austere savings plans, included in the Brandenburg budget, have sparked intense debates in the realm of policy-and-legislation, with critics from various political parties asserting that the cuts could potentially compromise essential services. The controversial budget, bringing forth controversies amid the economic crisis, has also become a hot topic in general-news, with the Rosa-Luxemburg School leading a protest against the proposed cuts.
