ERFURT (dpa-AFX) - Thuringia's leading Green Party candidate Bernhard Stengele has called for compulsory natural hazard insurance. "If the federal government does not introduce solidarity-based natural hazard insurance, it will have learned nothing from past floods and heavy rainfall," said the 61-year-old, who is also Thuringia's environment minister, in Erfurt on Thursday.

The Green politician predicted that there would be more frequent extreme weather events in the future - even in places that had not previously been affected. "We need a solidarity-based natural hazard insurance, also to keep the dispute over the costs incurred to a minimum, regardless of all the important protective measures that we are pushing forward with great pressure," said Stengele. A new state parliament will be elected in Thuringia on September 1.

On Thursday afternoon, the state premiers met with Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) for regular consultations focusing on migration policy. The federal states also want to discuss the introduction of mandatory natural hazard insurance with Scholz. The Bundesrat had called for such compulsory insurance on Friday in view of the recent extreme weather events. However, Federal Minister of Justice Marco Buschmann rejects this./htz/DP/tih