The faction leaders of the Union, Klaus Holetschek (CSU) and Andreas Bühl (CDU), have called into question the financial support provided to Berlin by other German states. In a guest contribution published by the news magazine “Focus” for the CDU leadership conference, the two politicians specifically criticize the proposed cultural expenditures outlined in the Capital Treaty.
Holetschek, who represents the CSU in the Bavarian State Parliament, and Bühl, who is in the Thuringian State Parliament, argued: “Why should Berlin receive 2.9 billion euros for culture,” adding that the benefits of this funding hardly extend to citizens in places like Flensburg and Rostock, just as little as they do in Konstanz or Berchtesgaden.
Conversely, they explicitly stated that support for the capital’s security duties was entirely appropriate. When linking other regions’ financial contributions to Berlin, however, Holetschek and Bühl issued a stark warning regarding a future government led by the Left Party. They insisted that anyone expecting other regions to continue co-financing Berlin, which runs into billions, must simultaneously ensure that no forces gaining influence in the capital minimize antisemitism or disparage democratic institutions.
The authors stressed that a government led by the Left Party would have “political consequences beyond Berlin” given the antisemitism allegations they cited. Consequently, they demanded that the SPD must reject any alliance with the Left.
