Hamburg’s finance senator Andreas Dressel has launched a sharp critique of the federal government’s historical distribution of infrastructure funding, raising concerns about persistent regional inequalities and questioning the efficacy of the newly established €500 billion infrastructure special fund. In an interview with “Die Zeit” weekly, Dressel, a member of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), accused Bavaria of disproportionately benefiting from previous federal allocations and warned against a continuation of these patterns.
“I hope that now, with this special fund of over €500 billion created to address infrastructure deficits, we don’t simply revert to old habits” Dressel stated. His comments, seemingly aimed at preventing a scenario where Bavaria receives a disproportionate share of funds, were particularly cutting: “I hope not every Bavarian village gets a second bypass road.
The debate extends beyond mere road construction and is intrinsically linked to the ongoing competition to host the 2040 or 2044 Olympic Games. Both Hamburg and Munich are vying for the opportunity and Dressel emphasized that the availability of additional federal funding will be a crucial factor in the selection process. He voiced anxieties that investment in the games could similarly be diverted to Bavaria, a scenario he deemed unacceptable for Hamburg. A public referendum on Hamburg’s Olympic bid is scheduled for May 31, 2026.
Beyond immediate concerns regarding geographical distribution, Dressel also expressed doubts about the long-term sustainability of the special fund. He predicts that the fund’s resources will prove insufficient to finance all vital infrastructure projects, particularly regarding necessary renovations and expansions. “By the early 2030s, we’ll need another boost to renovate and expand our infrastructure” Dressel asserted, suggesting a potential need to either increase the fund’s volume or explore alternative investment strategies. He also indicated a willingness to consider taking on new debt, arguing that neglecting Germany’s infrastructure is an unsustainable risk. “We must never allow German infrastructure to rot” he concluded.
The senator’s remarks are likely to inject further friction into the ongoing debate about federal investment priorities and regional equity, potentially creating political pressure on the government to ensure a more equitable distribution of resources moving forward.