The President of the German Association of Cities and Municipalities, Uwe Brandl (CSU), is calling for a “reversal” in Germany’s migration and expenditure policies.
In light of a deepening economic crisis and a 186 billion euro backlog in municipal finances, the system needs to be overhauled, Brandl said in an interview. “This is also an opportunity to realize that one cannot afford every wish” he added.
For instance, he questioned why high-income earners are not contributing financially to the early childhood education of their offspring. “We need to tackle these issues, even if they are not popular” Brandl emphasized. “It is part of our social understanding that we help those who cannot help themselves – but only as long as they cannot.”
Regarding the topic of migration, the situation for municipalities is “brutal, especially the question of accommodation” Brandl explained. “From a fairness perspective in the population” it is crucial to quickly place arriving individuals in employment. “I am convinced that the topic of work makes the topic of integration more solvable” he said.
This, in turn, would be beneficial for the self-esteem of newcomers: “They become a full-fledged member of society. This would be a reversal in politics.” It is about “working from the very first day” the CSU politician added: “To put it bluntly, even a civil engineer may have to take on work that is below their qualifications, until they master the language to the point where they can work in their profession.