Greens demand clarification on cuts to culture

The Greens in the Saxon state parliament are surprised about cuts in the current budget for culture and are demanding clarification. Culture Minister Barbara Klepsch (CDU) announced this in a video conference last week, said parliamentary group leader Franziska Schubert in Dresden. There was talk of at least a 10 percent cut in the funding actually available for approval, and for some institutions even significantly more. There is uncertainty among those affected.

Greens call for cuts to be reversed

"I have no sympathy for this. From a financial policy perspective, there is currently no need for this. The 2026 budget has been adopted and can be managed," said Schubert, who is also her parliamentary group's spokesperson for financial policy. The Ministry of Culture is causing unnecessary damage, especially to smaller institutions and sponsors. "It contradicts the state's key objective of preserving cultural identity and diversity." The cuts must be reversed immediately.

Cuts are a foul on parliament

"Culture in the Free State is not a plaything. Once again, there is a threat of job cuts, project cancellations and frustration," added Claudia Maicher, cultural policy spokesperson for the parliamentary group. In the current double budget, her party prevailed against the CDU and SPD's original plans to cut funding for culture. "If these funds are now blocked, it is not only a foul on parliament as the budget legislator. It also destroys trust in a policy that wants to preserve cultural diversity in Saxony."