The €1,000 premium for public sector employees in the states will not be paid. During an interview on Monday with RTL and ntv, Thuringia’s State Prime Minister, Mario Voigt (CDU), announced that his state, in close coordination with the remaining 16 federal states, has decided to abandon the payment entirely. Voigt stated that due to the poor economic situation, solidarity is essential, and that is their commitment. He questioned the logic of the situation where those who generate the tax revenue necessary for state operations might be unable to contribute, while the state continues to manage such payments, stressing that government spending must exercise restraint.
In the process, the CDU politician criticized the concept of shifting the burden of supporting citizens onto private companies. He argued that the €1,000 bonus represents an unaffordable expense, particularly for small and medium-sized businesses and craftsmen in Thuringia. For him, this well-meaning financial relief would paradoxically become an overwhelming burden. Voigt noted that the state’s reserves are depleted. Following discussions with the local Mittelstand sector, he concluded that they simply cannot bear the cost, a concern that deeply affects many residents.
