Sachsen-Anhalt Landtag, Plenarprotokoll
7/122, p. 45.
Many thanks, Herr President.
The Linke, in their motion of June 3, 2020, demand that the
local special use charges be waived for restaurant and retail trade and that
the State refund the charges to the localities – so far, so sensible – at least
retroactively for the time in which restaurant and retail trade was
compulsorily closed. For us, however, this does not go far enough. For us, this
does not affect the core of the problem.
Of the recommendation of the resolution, the following is to
be said: In this resolution recommendation is not much left of the the sensible
part of the Linke’s demands. The Landtag shall respect and welcome the charges
waiver – so far, so imprecise. Of a refund to the localities in the resolution
recommendation, there is nothing to be read – even so little as the required
refunds of the charges already paid.
Better than to now speak of charge refunds is, for us, to
open everything, especially restaurant and retail trade, because in this case
the preventive measures are disproportionate and inappropriate. They endanger
livelihoods and harm the economy. They thereby drive the people to a state of
emergency. The example of restaurants has exactly shown that, given a 0.8%
portion of infections incidence and the restaurant trade’s hygiene concepts, it
is utterly senseless to close this branch. We want no little decree games which
aim at a specific number of persons in a specific number of square meters or
shopping times. For us, that is straightaway unacceptable, impractical and bad
for business.
A waiver of charges is good. But that the State does not
cover this deficiency is bad. We speak, as was said, of the turning of the set
screws. In regards these restrictions threatening livelihoods in the restaurant
and retail trades – this, for us, is not purposeful.
The motion of the Linke is cosmetic and does not affect the
core of the problem. On that account, we say: We need to immediately end this
lockdown and better protect the groups at risk and the seniors.
We could have much more money on hand if we did not, by
means of the policy conducted here, throw away 4 billion euros each week. The democracy
deficit must be eliminated. In regards the decrees, parliamentary government
also must again return.
The vaccination obligation must be prevented. Vaccination
must remain voluntary. That is what we want. You want to turn the set screws.
We want to turn the big wheel. The voters will decide which is the right way.
Many thanks for your attention.
[trans: tem]
