Hamburg's Finance Senator Dressel is calling for a stop to rapidly rising social costs

Hamburg's Finance Senator Andreas Dressel has immediately demanded that the federal government put an end to the rapidly rising costs in the social sector.

In order to preserve the welfare state, the dramatic increase in costs must be limited immediately, said the SPD politician in an interview with the “Hamburger Abendblatt”. “Otherwise, German cities could declare bankruptcy collectively in the next few years and will be forced to stop more and more voluntary services.” The SPD in the federal government must also understand that it cannot be achieved without limiting the increase in costs. “It’s already five past twelve now.”

With a view to a possible left-wing governing mayor in Berlin and Hamburg's status as a donor country in the state financial equalization, Dressel warned: “We stand by federal solidarity as a donor country. But this is not a one-way street and must not be a blank check for individual recipient countries. But it is also clear: “No threatening gestures will help, especially not from Bavaria, but an honest cash grab in Berlin,” said Dressel. This will happen during the upcoming, difficult formation of a government in the capital.