In view of "persistent, very high macroeconomic risks", the Hessian Finance Minister Michael Boddenberg (CDU) is also planning the budget for the next two years in "crisis mode".

The framework conditions are worse than originally assumed, the Union politician stated on Wednesday before the meeting of the budget committee in the state parliament.

Ewald Hetrodt

Correspondent for the Rhein-Main-Zeitung in Wiesbaden.

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As reported, the original draft of the double budget dates from the summer of 2022. The relief packages from the federal and state governments to mitigate the consequences of the Ukraine war, the sharply reduced growth expectations for the current year and the results of the tax estimate from autumn 2022 were not yet shown.

Against this background, according to Boddenberg, the economic component of the debt brake allows new borrowing of around 760 million euros in the current year and around 90 million euros in the next.

However, the finance minister only wants to use this opportunity in part, because he believes that 2022 went much better than expected.

At the end of December, Hesse had almost 3.9 billion euros more in the till than expected.

That is why no new debts were taken on, but old ones were repaid.

In addition, the reserves were strengthened.

The Minister of Finance intends to withdraw around EUR 760 million from this well-filled pot to finance the double budget in the current year and around EUR 50 million in 2024.

This leads to new borrowing of 210 million euros this year.

According to this calculation, it will not be necessary to take out new loans in 2024.

The budget draft of the black-green state government is to be passed by the state parliament next week.

In addition to the opposition, the two government factions are also submitting numerous amendments.

For example, the CDU wants to promote research into laser-based nuclear fusion.

Ines Claus, leader of the parliamentary group, explained that she could make an important contribution to future energy production.

The Greens emphasized that the funds for international development cooperation should be increased to more than one million euros.