Prime Minister’s Conference: Weil does not expect an agreement on a higher broadcasting fee

Lower Saxony’s Prime Minister Stephan Weil sees the state leaders’ talks about increasing the broadcasting fee as deadlocked. “I no longer expect an agreement. Unfortunately, the fronts have become very hardened,” said the SPD politician before today’s Prime Minister’s Conference in Berlin. “We have to assume that the decision will ultimately be made by the Federal Constitutional Court. But we must avoid letting this become the rule.”

The broadcasting fee is currently 18.36 euros per month. A commission, whose recommendations the states must follow closely, had recommended an increase of 58 cents for the years 2025 to 2028. Lower Saxony supports this step. At the end of October, the country leaders postponed their discussions about it. ARD and ZDF then announced in November that they would be taking the increase to the Federal Constitutional Court.

From Weil’s point of view, the constitutional complaint is premature

“That was a little ahead of time because we haven’t even completed our consultations yet,” said Weil about the constitutional complaint. “The trip to Karlsruhe contributed to the fronts becoming even tougher.” Lower Saxony currently co-chairs the state round.

Weil also announced that he would appeal to the federal government to take steps to stimulate the economy before the new election. “We must not let the next six months go by without making clear moves towards an economic recovery,” he said. “Party tactics should not take precedence over the common interest; the Union must show its colors and follow its own words with action.”

Countries advise without the Chancellor

Unlike originally planned, the Prime Minister’s Conference will take place without Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD). “Neither the Chancellor nor the states had the impression that a joint meeting now made sense,” said Weil. “Now it’s the election campaign, then we’ll see what happens next.”