Of
Sebastian Krass
Congresses bring money to Munich, so the city should try to attract organizers. But the green-red majority in town hall and large parts of the opposition disagree on how to go about it. This was shown by the debate at the city council general meeting on Thursday about a congress concept by economics officer Clemens Baumgärtner (CSU). In addition to three new jobs, he had applied for additional money: 400,000 euros for marketing and a “convention fund” of five million euros for the years 2023 to 2035, in order to finance, for example, discounted MVV tickets and flags.
“Other cities clearly have double-digit million amounts to attract congresses,” said Baumgärtner. The search for a location for a new congress and event center in a central location is also part of his concept; there are no suitable locations in the city for medium-sized congresses.
In principle, Beppo Brem (Greens) saw things the same way. “We only have one small problem: the budget situation.” That’s why you have to “prioritize what’s possible.” Green-Red wanted to grant the economic department 200,000 euros for marketing and two new jobs, but not the congress fund. Manuel Pretzl (CSU) found this outrageous: The day before, the city council “waved money through for nice-to-have things”. But when it comes to promoting sectors of the economy that have been hit by Corona, “refuse yourself, that’s where your true face will show in economic policy”.
Gabriele Neff (FDP) agreed with Pretzl “completely” and added: “Five million for the fund sounds like a lot, but at the end of the day we often get the money back in.” Fundamental rejection of the congress plans came from Iris Wassill (AfD): “We don’t have to throw money after the economy.” There is enough space for congresses in the exhibition center. Ultimately, however, the Greens/Rosa List and SPD/Volt pushed through their application with the votes of Die Linke/Die Party against the rest of the opposition.