Prime Minister of Thuringia, Mario Voigt (CDU), announced on Monday to RTL and ntv that the €1,000 premium for public sector employees across the states will not be issued. Voigt stated that the 16 federal states-including Thuringia-have reached a considerable agreement to forgo the payment in light of the current economic climate, emphasizing that everyone must practice restraint.
Voigt argued that the state itself must show financial discipline, expressing difficulty understanding how the government could afford the payment when the workers who generate tax revenue are struggling to make ends meet.
Furthermore, the CDU politician heavily criticized the policy idea of shifting the financial relief meant for citizens onto private companies. He highlighted that the €1,000 premium is simply unaffordable for the typical small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and artisans in Thuringia. According to Voigt, the well-intentioned financial aid inadvertently becomes a significant burden. He pointed out that while reserves are depleted, the local business community cannot afford such costs, a situation that continues to concern many people.