The debate surrounding potential state mergers in Germany has resurfaced, sparking a pointed rebuke from Hesse’s Minister-President Boris Rhein, who distanced himself from Bavarian counterpart Markus Söder’s proposal for consolidation driven by cost-cutting measures. Rhein dismissed the calls, characterizing them as recurring, speculative discussions akin to “debates about the Loch Ness Monster.
While acknowledging the unique cultural, historical and traditional identities of each German state, Rhein emphasized the escalating financial pressures faced even by relatively prosperous regions like Hesse. He underscored the urgent need for relief for the “donor states” within the existing Länderfinanzausgleich (state financial equalization) system.
Facing mounting fiscal strain, Rhein advocated for a sweeping overhaul of the system, demanding a reduction in contributions from donor states alongside concrete directives for recipient states. A crucial element of this reform, he insisted, should be the linkage of future financial allocations to demonstrable progress within recipient states – specifically targeting areas such as administrative efficiency and debt reduction.
Rhein’s criticism extended to the frequent, often unproductive, agreements brokered between the federal government and individual states – what he derisively labeled “Pakte” or pacts. He expressed a firm unwillingness to engage in further negotiations of this type, arguing they ultimately fail to deliver sustainable solutions. He pointed to the “Pakt für den Rechtsstaat” (Pact for the Rule of Law) as a prime example of this flawed approach. Under the pact, the federal government provides funding for judicial positions for a limited duration, typically two years. Rhein highlighted the long-term financial commitment inherently required for such positions, emphasizing that states, responsible for the ongoing employment of judges for decades, simply cannot shoulder the burden. “Judges are civil servants. If we hire them at 27, as states, we still finance them for 38, 39 years until retirement. We can no longer afford that.
The Minister-President’s statements reflect a growing sentiment amongst some state leaders regarding the unsustainability of the current financial arrangement, raising critical questions about the future of federal-state relations and the potential for more significant systemic reforms.