Budget speech: AfD

Dear Mr Mayor Kerkhoff
Dear members of the administration
Dear city councillors and guests

The budget reflects politics and we are currently seeing that the eco-socialist madness, which is also supported by the CDU/CSU, is being overtaken by reality. The government is running out of money with unbelievable tax revenues of more than 1 trillion euros and the judiciary is increasingly cashing in on the accounting tricks of the politicians in charge. Hurray for the separation of powers and democracy! In Bocholt, the city treasurer is shocked by the figures for 2024 and that leaves me speechless.

The high revenues are collapsing while expenses and payments are rising exponentially. This structural deficit is NOT sudden and surprising. It has been looming like a rainbow-coloured elephant in the room for years. At the same time, Bocholt's liquidity is now evaporating. 36 million euros simply gone! Oops...

You, dear Mrs Schlaghecken, say in your budget speech that revenue recognition under the COVID Isolation Act is QUOTE: "not a suitable instrument in terms of balance sheet clarity and truth". End quote!

So today I ask you: Why did you still work with this accounting aid?

A prudent businessman assesses developments correctly and does not work with accounting tricks, so-called special assets or income postings from nothing. A prudent businessman also does not constantly refer to corona, climate, refugee and energy crises and turns the supposed and largely self-inflicted problems into a permanent emergency situation in order to conceal his own failures and to shoot German taxpayers' money around the world with confetti cannons.

Dear Mr Kerkhoff, incendiary letters are also pure window-dressing, not to say hypocrisy. I would also like to quote you from your budget speech: "We as the administration will continue to present the financial situation of the city of Bocholt realistically, transparently and honestly. There is no cheating, cheating or hiding". In view of the ongoing public prosecutor's investigations in Bocholt and the treasurer's criticism of the accounting aid from the Covid Insulation Act, this statement from you, Mr Kerkhoff, is hopefully more than just a pious wish.

I would like to say to the representatives of the Merkel-CDU here in the Borken district and in Bocholt in particular, please be careful not to moralise us into financial ruin. Think about what will happen if "we don't make it" and make sure that "social peace" is not jeopardised. Thank you very much for listening!