Countries against the amendment of the basic law: Sixteen to zero

The Minister of the interior, the Bundestag decided an Amendment to the Constitution reject. Thus, the digital Pact is on the Brink.

harmony across party lines: The basic law Change, nobody wants to be photo: Reuters

The Swiss Federal Council to the Amendment of the basic law on 14. December not agree. All 16 countries have called on the Prime Ministers ' conference, MPK, in Berlin on Wednesday unanimously against it. Thus, the digital Pact of the five billion euros for Wi-Fi access, learning platforms, and Tablets, so for the digitalization of schools provides for is temporarily on hold.

education is exclusively the responsibility of the States. However, many States and municipalities are strapped for cash. For many years, especially the SPD had campaigned for a repeal of the constitutional ban on Cooperation, in order for the Federal government, schools can directly contribute. Now, it seemed so far. The "future task," digitization of the Federal government, the Länder and the local authorities wanted to work together.

In the coalition agreement were the Union and the SPD, a Change in the basic law, a precondition for the digital Pact. The education Ministers of the countries and the then Federal education had agreed Minister two years ago. In the Bundestag last Thursday to the chamber of deputies of the CDU and the SPD together with the Greens and the FDP amendment of the basic law.

But was a Detail, the Prime Minister, with you not agreed. In the "overnight" (Minister of interior) and the newly revised article 104b is according to: For all the investments of the Federal government, the countries need to put in the future the same amount on top of it. For the digital Pact does not apply – here, the countries must provide only a portion of the of ten percent. But from 2020, then: We make half-and-half.

The head inside, whether it's from Greens, SPD, CDU, CSU, or left party, are exceptionally agree: So. The Federal-state financial relations would be fixed in order to a whole new way, said the acting Chairman of the MPK, Hamburg's mayor Peter Tschentscher. For the SPD politician, such a fundamental change in the law is a "step backwards". "This would mean that cash-strapped countries to be promoted, can not keep up," says Tschentscher.

Bundestag deputies voted for the clause, such as the SPD education expert Oliver Kaczmarek, show understanding: "It is legitimate, if the countries want to negotiate on the framework of financial investments." The CDU Deputy Tankred Schipanski says: "The 50-50 rule is entirely appropriate."

He refers to the fact that the country would be relieved from 2020, each year, to 9.7 billion euros. "We need to stick to the criterion of additionality."The countries want to on 14. December call together to the mediation Committee. Both the Bundestag and the Bundesrat must agree to a result. For the digital Pact it says: It starts anyway, not to 1. January 2019.