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Berlin / Stuttgart (dpa) - Before a meeting with business associations on corona policy, Federal Minister of Economics Peter Altmaier (CDU) is also exposed to criticism from his own party.

His colleague from Baden-Württemberg, Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut (CDU), called for improvements to Corona Bridging Aid III on Monday, which companies and self-employed people have recently been able to apply for.

Associations had previously criticized delayed payouts.

FDP party vice-president Wolfgang Kubicki therefore spoke out in favor of replacing Altmaier.

Altmaier has invited more than 40 associations to an “economic summit” on Tuesday.

Topics should be the current crisis situation, the most recent resolutions by the federal and state governments, the aid programs and possible opening perspectives, for example for trade and the hospitality industry.

The extension of the lockdown until March 7th was sharply criticized by the affected industries.

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Since the start of the disbursements of Bridging Aid III last week, 34.6 million euros in installments have flowed through the federal government, as a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Economic Affairs announced in Berlin on Monday.

Companies that are severely affected by the pandemic and lockdown can receive aid of up to 1.5 million euros per month until the end of June 2021.

Fixed operating costs are reimbursed.

With the aid for November and December, six billion euros have now flowed in advance payments and regular payments, it said.

Hoffmeister-Kraut said it was appropriate to check whether the bridging aid could not support companies with an annual turnover of up to 1.5 billion euros.

So far, only companies with a maximum turnover of 750 million euros are allowed to apply for this state aid.

"The current maximum limit is, however, too low for a number of the larger companies - especially in the retail sector - to ensure their survival," said Hoffmeister-Kraut of the dpa.

She also criticized the fact that the bridging aid only reimbursed fixed operating costs based on older sales.

Many small, owner-managed businesses where the owners do not pay a fixed salary do not get enough money.

Even with the simplified restart assistance, they fell through the grid, as this is only aimed at solo self-employed.

It therefore needs a “fictitious entrepreneur's wage” - the green-black state government in Baden-Württemberg has already operated with this instrument.

In addition to the self-employed, small businesses such as hairdressers and cosmetic studios also benefited from this.

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Kubicki said on “Bild live” about the slow implementation of Corona financial aid: “That went really wrong.

It would be good if we had another person in this responsibility. "

Altmaier is responsible for the fact that the promised financial aid has still not reached many companies.

"Bridging aid III can be paid out at the end of March at the earliest, if you apply for it now," added Kubicki, without mentioning the advance payments.

One of the reasons for this is a high level of bureaucratic effort.

© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210215-99-452956 / 2

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