Brandenburg Debates Free School Lunch Initiative Amid Budget Concerns

A proposed initiative to provide free school lunches for grades 1-6 in Brandenburg faces legal scrutiny and political opposition.

The Volksinitiative 'Schule satt!' has garnered 22,500 signatures, surpassing the required 20,000 to prompt a debate in the Brandenburg Landtag.
The initiative aims to offer free lunches to all primary school children, but concerns about the financial impact on the state budget have been raised.
CDU leaders express skepticism, emphasizing the need to focus on improving the quality of school meals rather than offering them for free.
A legal review is underway to determine the initiative's validity under the Volksabstimmungsgesetz, with a decision expected by December 9.
Support for the initiative comes from various social organizations and political groups, while the AfD plans to abstain from voting in the initial committee discussions.