Left-leaning coalition talks in German state plan 1,000 job cuts, new state bank
Social Democrats, Left Party and Greens in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania present first results: savings in the civil service, a state development bank and money for housing and AI.
Archive image · Photo: Dr. Frank Gaeth / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped and resized)
On the fifth day of coalition talks, the Social Democrats, the Left Party and the Greens in the eastern German state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania presented interim results on Friday evening at Schwerin Castle. Of some 7,000 state employees retiring over the next five years, 1,000 posts will not be refilled, saving 125 million euros, the Nordkurier newspaper reported. Fewer staff are also to be given lifetime civil-servant status.
The parties also plan a state development bank, cutting about 300 funding programs and 30 offices to no more than 200 programs and a single central office. They want to invest in affordable housing and artificial intelligence. “It was constructive talks that together led us to good results,” said state premier Manuela Schwesig of the Social Democrats, adding: “What is clear is that money is tight.”
The three parties aim to finish within three weeks; the new state parliament convenes on Oct. 20. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) came first in the Sept. 20 election with 32 seats, but the Social Democrats (29), Greens and Left (five each) together hold a majority.