Commission Tasked with Proposing Worker Safety Directive on Electronic Devices Risk Issues.
In the heat of Brandenburg's political scuffle, the state budget decision on June 20th hangs precariously in the balance, and a united vote from the SPD/BSW coalition is far from guaranteed. The thorn in the coalition's side, Sven Hornauf of the BSW faction, has set his approval of the double budget for this and the following year on altering the education and property tax sectors.
"If the education package goes public as is, I'm not voting for it, because the education package signifies an education cut," Hornauf declared to the German Press Agency. With a slim two-vote advantage in the state parliament, consisting of 46 out of 88 representatives, the double budget touts decreases, though some have been revised in recent talks.
Hornauf Slams Extra Hour for Teachers
By "education package," Hornauf primarily refers to the coalition's intentions for educators to provide an additional hour of instruction per week due to savings. They are intended to free up time elsewhere, with the abolishment of final exams in Grade 10 of gymnasiums and primary school reports. "Pure educational hogwash," Hornauf scoffs. "We all claim we're fighting for improvement."
Hornauf cautions that property tax increases are imminent for homeowners in certain regions. As a solution, he advocates for municipalities to have the flexibility to implement differentiated tax rates for commercial and private properties. Owing to his motion failing to materialize, he supported a similar motion from the AfD faction in May. BSW MP Reinhard Simon also abstained, violating the coalition agreement that opposing initiatives should generally be rejected, marking Hornauf's initial infraction.
Hornauf seeks to readdress his proposal. "I have a great hope that a compromise can still be reached, both on the property tax and the education package," he stated.
BSW Faction Remains Optimistic
Hornauf's volatile decisions consistently stir up turmoil. Because he abstained in the vote on the Interior Ministry budget in the Interior Committee in May, the proposal didn't receive a majority there. Hornauf was ousted from all parliamentary committees as a result. Expulsion discussions were frequently brought up. He now serves on the Enquete Commission on public passenger transport.
SPD faction leader Björn Lüttmann asserted at the tail-end of May that he is certain "that all members of the SPD faction will vote for the budget." The BSW faction also expresses optimism that the budget will be endorsed. Faction leader Niels-Olaf Lüders indicated that the vote on the property tax has been assessed with Simon in such a way "that we can rely on it." And Hornauf? "We're still in talks," a faction representative remarks. "That won't be the deal-breaker." However, whether the Frankfurt (Oder) MP ultimately votes in favor remains uncertain.
[1] Enrichment Data: Education concerns center on Hornauf's strong opposition to increasing teachers' workload without the necessary resources to support them. Property tax changes have the potential to disproportionately affect residential vs. commercial properties in certain regions. The coalition's slim majority, consisting of 46 out of 88 members, means Hornauf's votes are vital for the budget's approval. The double budget includes proposed budget cuts, some of which have been revised in recent discussions. The vote is scheduled for June 20, 2025.
- Sven Hornauf's opposition to the education package, which includes an additional hour of instruction for teachers without sufficient support resources, is a significant concern.
- The property tax changes proposed by the coalition have the potential to differently impact residential and commercial properties in certain regions, a concern advocated by Sven Hornauf.
- The double budget, scheduled for a vote on June 20, 2025, requires the coalition's slim majority of 46 out of 88 members, making Hornauf's votes crucial for its approval.
