Aminata Touré, the Minister of Social Affairs for Schleswig-Holstein and a member of the Green Party, voiced strong criticism against the federal government’s announced tax-free €1,000 bonus. Speaking to “Tagesspiegel” (Friday edition), she argued that the financial relief measures proposed by the federal government largely benefit others, rather than being feasible for the states. She added that the news has caused significant discontent among state leaders.
Touré dismissed the idea that the general public could simply fund these measures, stating, “We simply do not have that money as a state”. Furthermore, she pointed out that the federal government’s actions place local businesses in a deeply problematic financial position. When asked if the state budget could carve out any funding, her response was unequivocal: there is “no chance”. The Green politician reflected on her long career in politics, noting that while she had long expected budgetary constraints, the states have been systematically saving money for the last three years, leaving little room for spending.
Shifting the focus, Touré emphasized a more critical national priority: Germany urgently needs to establish a comprehensive climate-social plan. This plan is necessary for the nation to qualify for the EU’s Climate and Social Fund, which allocates one billion euros annually. This fund is specifically intended to address and combine the twin themes of climate change mitigation and social equalization.