After 100 days of the new Saarland state government, the FDP Saar draws a mixed picture. In terms of education, there are both bright spots and downsides, while in the areas of economy and police, there have been many disappointments and broken election promises so far.
“The SPD single-party government is failing to meet the goals it set for itself. The successes that the SPD claims for some of its measures are not worth mentioning upon closer inspection. The state government must finally start fulfilling its election promises,” said the deputy state chairman Marcel Mucker.
Following the Ford bankruptcy came the bad news from Villeroy and Boch. Two major companies are leaving Saarland, causing many skilled workers to lose their jobs. Instead of proactively developing concepts for the Saarland location, the ruling SPD has so far been directionless and lacking sufficient concepts for the transformation of the region. The election promise to create 400,000 new jobs thus moves further out of reach.
The government also wanted to strengthen the police, but the opposite is the case. The 2023 budget draft foresees 120 new officers. After subtracting those retiring, only 35 new positions are created. A drop in the ocean given the overload of our Saarland police.
How this can be presented as a success is incomprehensible to the FDP Saar.
Furthermore, instead of improving the quality in day-care centers, there is a one-sided focus on fee reductions, unlike other federal states. Criticism from practice is ignored. With the introduction of G9, real reform potential was lost in favor of a rapid implementation.
Regarding the expansion of public transport, it remains to be seen whether structural changes will occur with the electrification of the railway or the expansion of the Saarbahn as announced in the SPD election program. The federal government can support this through GVFG funds.
