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Berlin (dpa) - In view of the long-lasting corona crisis, the federal government is soliciting trust from the economy.
“We have the resources that are needed and we will use them.
Everyone in the German economy can trust that, ”said Federal Finance Minister Olaf Scholz (SPD) of the German Press Agency.
There was increasing criticism from the business world, both regarding the speed of payments and the scope of aid.
Within the coalition of the Union and the SPD, allegations were made that were directed either against Scholz or Economics Minister Peter Altmaier (CDU).
Altmaier defended the federal government's Corona aid and at the same time showed understanding for the criticism from entrepreneurs.
"Since the beginning of the pandemic we have given 75 billion euros to the economy, to small, self-employed medium-sized companies, to larger companies," he said on Wednesday evening in the ZDF "heute journal".
In addition, there would be 20 billion euros for short-time working benefits.
"But for those who are still waiting and who urgently need the money, it is of course a great test of patience, and then I have a lot of understanding for criticism."
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Scholz said: “The help for the companies is important - and I have to protect my colleague Altmaier from criticism: In a short time, a platform had to be programmed on which this help can be applied for nationwide and in some cases even automatically paid out .
That is technically not trivial. "
Associations had recently sharply criticized the government for delays in paying out November aid, which is subsidies for companies.
The payout via the countries only began on Tuesday.
On the other hand, there is criticism of the conditions for the bridging aid.
In contrast to the November and December aid, revenue losses are not reimbursed, but operational fixed costs.
The German Travel Association (DRV) assessed the application for bridging aid as too complicated and the approval as lengthy.
"The economy needs faster procedures here so that the survival of companies in the pandemic is ensured," said DRV President Norbert Fiebig to the "Handelsblatt".
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The CEO of the Motel One hotel group, Dieter Müller, like Fiebig, criticized that larger companies would be disadvantaged when it came to Corona aid.
"This is distortion of competition," he told Wirtschaftswoche.
Until the autumn, the bridging aid was only available for small and medium-sized companies.
He was also disappointed with the November aid.
“So far we have received 50,000 euros as an advance payment.
For the entire group of 75 hotels.
That's a joke. "
The Düsseldorf hotelier Otto Lindner complained: “We cannot fight the political narrative.
Scholz and Altmaier keep appearing as big supporters on television, announcing one bazooka after the other - and then pushing us off into the small print. "
North Rhine-Westphalia's Prime Minister Armin Laschet (CDU) made Minister Scholz responsible for the stagnant payment of November aid.
«This is not a masterpiece by the Federal Minister of Finance.
Anyone who announces a bazooka and a thump with big words must not fail because of a jam, ”said the candidate for the CDU chairmanship of the“ Handelsblatt ”.
The entrepreneurs rightly shook their heads.
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In contrast, Justice Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) pointed out Altmaier's responsibility.
Scholz made sure that the necessary funds were available.
"Now the responsible Federal Minister of Economics Altmaier has to ensure that the aid reaches the companies that are urgently waiting for it quickly," Lambrecht told the "Handelsblatt".
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210114-99-27130 / 2