Relief for local authorities - Klingbeil wants a quick solution

SPD leader and Federal Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil wants a quick solution in the discussion about relieving the burden on municipalities and federal states due to the consequences of the innovation program for the economy. The "growth booster" would result in a loss of revenue for local authorities, Klingbeil said at the SPD state party conference in Dresden. He therefore believes that the federal government has a duty to find solutions with the federal states and not leave the municipalities out in the cold, Klingbeil emphasized. "We are working hard on this." Talks are currently underway about compensation. Prior to his appearance in Dresden, Klingbeil had already attended the SPD party conference in Brandenburg.

After the historic defeat of the Social Democrats in the federal elections, Klingbeil announced that he would come to terms with the situation - for example at the federal party conference next weekend in Berlin. "We have to draw conclusions and consequences, we have to change." His aim is for the SPD to no longer achieve 16.4 percent in the next elections, but to end up where it belongs at national level: "In first place."

Klingbeil emphasizes support for Ukraine

The SPD leader also responded to the current discussion about a manifesto by some SPD members against rearmament and for more diplomacy. Klingbeil emphasized that the SPD stands by the side of courageous Ukrainians. It had always been the SPD's policy to back military, financial and political support for Ukraine. At the same time, there was no contradiction in using all diplomatic options. Diplomacy and military strength are "two sides of the same coin" for social democrats, said Klingbeil.

In the position paper, SPD politicians call for an end to the killing in Ukraine, a move away from the policy of armament and more diplomatic efforts by the whole of Europe in view of the Russian war of aggression. The so-called manifesto, which was published around two weeks before the SPD federal party conference, was met with some fierce criticism within the party.