Magdeburg coalition struggles until late for broadcasting fees

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Magdeburg (dpa) - In the Magdeburg coalition conflict over the future broadcast contribution in Germany, top representatives from the CDU, SPD and Greens continue to struggle for a solution.

A hastily convened special meeting lasted on Wednesday night even after three and a half hours.

The coalition around Prime Minister Reiner Haseloff (CDU) has so far not been able to agree on a uniform vote on a new interstate broadcasting treaty including a higher broadcasting fee.

The decisive votes in the Magdeburg state parliament are due in the coming days.

First of all, the media committee must decide whether it recommends approval or rejection to the state parliament.

The final vote in parliament is due in mid-December.

In order for the broadcasting fee to rise by 86 cents to 18.36 euros on January 1, 2021, all state parliaments must agree by the end of this year.

Everyone except Saxony-Anhalt has done this or has signaled to do it.

The CDU in Saxony-Anhalt wants to reject the project and could form a majority with the AfD.

Haseloff wants to prevent that.

The SPD and the Greens want to support the new State Treaty.

If the parties do not agree on a common path, not only is the nationwide increase in the radio license fee on the brink, but also the continued existence of the state government.

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The Christian Democrats and Prime Minister Reiner Haseloff (CDU) recently proposed to withdraw the state treaty from parliament - and renegotiate it with a view to the negative economic consequences of the corona pandemic.

In fact, this amounts to a blockade, because approval from Saxony-Anhalt is off the table by the end of the year.

The SPD and the Greens want to approve the project and suggested that the adjustment only come into force six months later in order to renegotiate the exact amount - or to demand further reforms via a resolution.

At a first crisis meeting on Tuesday afternoon, it was agreed to create space for further talks and to postpone the groundbreaking vote of the media committee.

This plan failed due to a veto by the CDU parliamentary group.

The committee is due to meet on Wednesday morning.

Whether and how the members would make decisions was initially still open.