SPD on other topics

The SPD wants to give the Verbraucherzentrale Thüringen (consumer advice center) more money so it can offer more counseling. At the federal level, it wants to push for collective rights of action for consumer organizations, because in its view the market fails to regulate itself in many areas.

The consumer advice center helps people who have problems with companies. The SPD wants to give it more money. Then it can advise more people, also in easy language and in other languages. Consumer groups should also be allowed to sue unfair companies.

Funding is to take price increases into account in the future. Above all, institutional funding, meaning permanent core funding, is to grow so that the center becomes more independent. The rights of action are to apply, for example, to low-value disputes and unfair competition; the platform cites inflated reference prices, bait offers and incorrect price labeling. In addition, technical, legal and administrative supervision in consumer protection and occupational safety is to be merged to work more efficiently with fewer staff.

The SPD wants to set up specialized teams operating across regions to monitor food and consumer goods. It argues that small-scale municipal structures cannot provide the necessary specialization for every task.

Public offices check food and other goods. There are more and more new products. The SPD wants special inspection teams for several regions. They have expert knowledge that single counties lack.

The platform points to growing product variety, manufacturers operating across regions, and new processes, materials and chemical substances. The teams are to work where counties and independent cities lack expertise. The SPD also wants to review whether tasks of the veterinary, food inspection and environmental offices should be returned to the state.

The SPD wants to draw up a long-term plan for sports in Thuringia together with organized sports bodies. Funding for grassroots sports from state lottery surpluses is to stay and, where possible, be supplemented by other sources. Allowances for volunteers and coaches are to rise regularly.

The SPD wants to make a plan for sports in Thuringia. Sports clubs will help write it. Today, sports get a lot of money from the lottery. The SPD will check if more money can come from other sources. Helpers in sports will get more money on a regular basis.

The plan is to be based on inventories, expert needs assessments and fixed goals and measures. Future agreements between the state government and the state sports federation are to follow it. The state, municipalities and clubs are to share responsibility for grassroots sports. The allowance for volunteers and coaches is to be adjusted to rising costs. An additional volunteer card is planned for people working with young athletes.

The SPD wants to set up a special investment program for sports facilities worth 20 million euros a year. More money is also to go to school gyms, and funding for municipal swimming pools is to be secured so that all students can get swimming lessons.

The SPD wants to give more money for sports facilities. There will be 20 million euros every year. School gyms will get 10 million euros. Swimming pools should stay open. Then all children can learn to swim.

The budget line for building and renovating school gyms is to rise to 10 million euros. Municipalities are to keep receiving support, together with the federal government, for renovating and expanding schools and sports facilities. They should also be able to build publicly accessible sports areas, equipment and fitness parks. For rural areas, the SPD wants to test using existing and vacant buildings for several purposes, such as sports, events and youth services. Money from different funding pots is to be combined without much red tape.

The SPD wants to support elite athletes with state scholarships and stronger sports high schools. Professional and top-level clubs are to receive an annual funding budget. Disability sports are to be supported on an equal footing.

The SPD wants to support top athletes. They should get money from the state. Professional clubs should also get money every year. Sports for people with disabilities should be just as important. The SPD is against doping.

School social workers are to be placed at the sports high schools. The funding budget is meant to help clubs meet the growing requirements of their leagues. The SPD opposes doping and points to the rule that state funding requires staff with a doping past to undergo a review. Sports regions are to get help developing their facilities as part of a tourism concept. In the SPD's view, eSports can be recognized as a sport if it meets the criteria and values of organized sports.