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Hanover (dpa) - Possible corona aid from Lower Saxony for the ailing Tui group continues to meet with great skepticism in the state parliament opposition.

In the opinion of the Greens, the world's largest travel company must not receive extensive support from state funds such as the Deutsche Messe AG or Hannover Airport.

Financial expert Stefan Wenzel spoke out against corresponding guarantees for Tui, which according to information from the environment of the state government could apply for a sum of 400 million euros.

"It is not the job of the state to save the Tui investors, who have so far contributed precious little to the solution," criticized Wenzel.

The FDP had already called a guarantee in this case at the beginning of December an "irresponsible risk".

Tui is already receiving billions in loans, most of which come from the federal government.

Trade unionists complain that the management is shedding thousands of jobs at the same time and that relatively high dividends were paid out in good years instead of investing higher shares in the company's profits.

"In order to keep as many of the Tui jobs as possible, a better solution is needed instead of the constant new rescue packages," said Wenzel.

"This can be a protective shield procedure or a measure under the new restructuring and insolvency law development law, which comes into force at the beginning of the year."

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Shortly before Christmas, the budget committee of the state parliament wanted to decide on possible guarantees.

However, there should now be a need for further examinations, for example on questions of state aid - the next regular consultations should follow on January 13th.

The state had already promised concrete help for the trade fair company in Hanover, and guarantees and additional capital injections are also being discussed for Hanover-Langenhagen Airport.

In contrast to the state holdings in the exhibition center and airport, of which the city of Hanover is one of the co-owners and which mayor Belit Onay (Greens) described as “systemically relevant”, the Greens refuse to support TUI.

This would primarily promote large investors who had acted with little foresight in the previous business policy, it said.

Management's justification that more help is needed until the travel economy recovers are questionable.

After the second rescue package in early autumn, Tui lost more money than initially assumed.

"I cannot see why the third forecast by the Board of Management should be closer to reality," said Wenzel.

Economics Minister Bernd Althusmann (CDU) said in the summer: "I expect that the economic direction will not be based solely on overcoming the undoubtedly serious crisis situation, but will follow a long-term objective."

After the slump in 2020, Tui is now hoping for significantly better business in 2021.

The support - including private capital injections - now adds up to 4.8 billion euros.

The federal government is also prepared, which critics of state intervention see with mixed feelings.

Up to 8,000 jobs worldwide are on the cross-off list, especially abroad.

According to CEO Fritz Joussen, the company still had around 2.5 billion euros in cash at the beginning of December.

However, Joussen had also stated that the money should now really go beyond the crisis.

Tui will not have to repay its first loans until mid-2022.