There should be no savings in the social sector in the Bavarian state government’s upcoming double budget. State Social Minister Ulrike Scharf (CSU) promised this on Wednesday. At the opening of the ConSozial trade fair in Nuremberg, she said that it would be a service to democracy not to make cuts here. Scharf also announced that a queer action plan for Bavaria would be agreed upon in the coalition agreement between the CSU and Free Voters.
Scharf spoke about the AfD’s strong performance in the state elections in Bavaria. The election result is a clear mandate to hold a hand over the weak in society. “We do not allow hatred and incitement,” said Scharf, “anyone who only stirs up strategic fears should never take political responsibility.”
The managing director of the Federal Association of Independent Welfare Services (BAG), Gerhard Timm, criticized the federal government. Planned savings of 25 percent in the federal social budget would lead to major damage that would outweigh the short-term benefits of the cuts, he noted. Given the shortage of skilled workers in the social sector, funds for voluntary services cannot be seriously cut. Timm announced a large demonstration by social organizations on November 6th in Berlin.