The Arbeiterwohlfahrt is one of them, the Diakonie and the equal welfare association: more than 100 organizations from Saxony have warned the state government of cuts in the social budget in an open letter. With a view to the ongoing budget negotiations, they write: “A purely fiscal perspective would have fatal consequences for our country, especially for the already structurally poor rural regions.” Saxony would be set back by years. To make the country fit for the future, it needs social, cultural and democratic offers as well as “smart investments”.
Around two weeks ago, Minister of Social Affairs Petra Köpping (SPD) warned of drastic cuts in her budget. She was “personally disappointed with the Prime Minister,” she said in an interview on Sächsische.de. When asked whether she could live with the internal negotiation offer for her department, she replied: “No, definitely no.”
“Trust could be damaged”
The signatories of the letter, which also include the People’s Solidarity, the Red Cross and trade unions, refer to cuts made in 2010. These would have led to a “breakdown of established and effective structures in social, cultural, youth and educational areas”: “These continue to have an effect today and have damaged people’s trust in politics.” Now there would be the consequences of the pandemic.
The organizers of the letter also found words of praise for Saxony’s black-green-red cabinet, which they combine with an appeal: “We call on the state government to continue on the path that has begun of an active state policy to offset the economic and social consequences of the pandemic.” Their conclusion: “Cutbacks would be the wrong signal to the people in Saxony and could fundamentally damage the trust in the political institutions that was hard to gain.”
Debt is the key issue
The cabinet intends to adopt the draft budget for the next two years at its November 10th session. Then it is the turn of the state parliament. The budget should be roughly the level of the previous households. However, the question of borrowing is controversial. In spring, the state parliament decided that Saxony could borrow up to six billion euros in order to cope with the consequences of the pandemic.
