display

Hanover (dpa) - Lower Saxony's Economics Minister Bernd Althusmann (CDU) has called for the federal government's economic aid to be provided quickly in the Corona crisis.

Otherwise, some companies may soon be threatened with bankruptcy before further aid payments reach them, said Althusmann of the German Press Agency in Hanover.

"Bridging aid III for January to June 2021 should come as soon as possible, because otherwise some companies will find themselves in the very difficult situation that they may apply for funding, but it will no longer reach them."

The minister said the full force of the corona consequences can be expected at the beginning of the year.

By the summer, some companies would get into considerable financial difficulties due to the corona pandemic.

"The German retail trade is expecting a significant drop in sales in the non-food sector, the fashion retail sector in particular is being hit hard, and some companies will hardly come out of the crisis," said Althusmann.

"That is why we in the federal and state governments must now ensure that bridging aid comes quickly and unbureaucratically."

Programming difficulties on the federal platform are partly technically understandable and caused delays in the payment of the November and December aid, but the payments announced for March are too late.

If it takes too long in the end, some companies have to be extremely careful to avoid going to the bankruptcy judge.

display

The billions in aid from the federal, state and local governments would have to be used to emerge a little stronger from the crisis, said the vice head of government.

"The Corona crisis has relentlessly demonstrated our failures."

The digital expansion of the country must be faster in every respect.

Althusmann asked for patience for the way out of the second lockdown.

"Now we just want to hope that the protective measures begin to take effect, but we only see that with a two to three week delay."

It has to be seen which infection numbers can actually be determined after the holidays and what will be agreed at the next meeting of the federal and state governments on January 5th.

"But it won't just be over on January 10th."

Many restrictions might have to apply into spring.

The debate about first easing for vaccinated people is not very helpful.

No one can responsibly give any all-clear at the moment.

"But I have the hope that the vaccinations will progress faster than we currently expect."