Steffen Krach, the leader of the SPD in Berlin, has strongly rejected insinuations made by Bavarian Minister-President Markus Söder (CSU) regarding potential changes to the capital’s financing treaty.
Speaking to the news portal T-Online, Krach criticized Söder, claiming that the CSU chief deliberately instigated controversy during the Berlin election campaign only to express surprise over the ensuing results. Krach further alleged that Söder effectively heightened the debate in Berlin through his previous actions, such as blocking the rent cap and pushing for a nonsensical legal ban on social enterprises.
The party leader emphasized that the capital’s financing contract is not a reward for any particular political party or election outcome. Rather, he stated, it funds the responsibilities Berlin undertakes as the capital of Germany for the entire nation, covering essential areas from security to culture. Krach deemed any attempt to challenge this funding out of “partisanship frustration” as irresponsible. He concluded by adding that it would benefit both Berlin and Germany if Söder learned to remain silent sometimes.
The initial speculation originated from Söder, who had suggested that the newly renewed capital financing agreement would need to be reconsidered should the Left Party take control of the Berlin government, a stance he attributed, in part, to the Left Party’s plans for expropriation.
