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Söder's state merger: These federal states should go!
Debate about federal state merger: Markus Söder calls for reorganization, Bremen among the states considered dispensable.
Söder's state merger: These federal states should go!
The discussion about a reorganization of the federal states is gaining momentum. Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) recently brought his vision of a merger of federal states into play. Amid rising costs and demands for greater efficiency, the debate is now raging about which states might be left behind.
A survey by the INSA Institute shows that 38% of respondents support a merger of the federal states, while 42% are against it and 20% remain undecided. Among those who advocate a merger, 68% see Saarland as dispensable. Bremen (60%) and Saxony-Anhalt (57%) are also very popular among candidates. According to Merkur, the list shows other countries, including Hamburg (56%) and Berlin (50%).
Secret plans and resistance
Söder himself says that smaller federal states are often barely viable and are therefore dependent on financial support from larger states. Bavaria in particular, which paid around 9.8 billion euros into the state financial equalization system last year, is calling for a reform of this system, which it believes is outdated. In the past, Söder has mentioned Bremen and Saarland as candidates for a merger, but has not presented any concrete models that would enable practical implementation.
The resistance to Söder's proposals is not long in coming. Schleswig-Holstein's Prime Minister Daniel Günther (CDU) unequivocally rejected the CSU leader's proposal. “That just costs money and is not effective,” says Günther. The Saarland Prime Minister Anke Rehlinger (SPD) also reacts with ridicule to Söder's demands and refers to the historical role of Saarland. It is therefore clear that Söder's plans will not go without resistance, and like most political initiatives, this one also needs the consent of the citizens via a referendum.
Legal framework and challenges
The legal framework for reorganizing the federal states is in place, but this process is likely to be anything but easy. Changing the federal structure requires federal law and citizen consent. The examples from the past also show that such projects were not always successful. The attempt to merge Berlin and Brandenburg failed in 1996.
Experts also warn that such mergers could result in higher short-term costs, while long-term savings may be limited. However, the pressure to reform the federal structures is noticeable and could soon lead to a new attempt to discuss a reorganization of the federal states. However, it remains to be seen whether the well-being of the citizens is really the priority or whether it is purely a matter of financial considerations. A look back could show that many federal states could do good business with such a reform - but is everyone really willing to take the risks associated with it?
The debate remains exciting, and the next few months could shed light on what reform might actually look like and whether citizens are ready to use their influence. Mirror reports that there is great resistance and opinions among the population appear to be divided.
Observers will now pay attention to how the political balance of power develops in the coming weeks and whether a dialogue about the future of the federal states finally gets underway. It remains to be seen whether Söder and his colleagues have a good knack for smoothing things over and finding a solution that is acceptable for all sides.