Basic child security: After the battle | STERN.de

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There they are now. Lisa Paus and Christian Lindner. They argued for weeks, and the Chancellor had to mediate for many hours. And now they are presenting a compromise on basic child security in the federal press conference. Do you see traces of the battle in their performances?

First of all: emphasized nonchalance. Lindner and Paus smile and take a seat next to each other. Social Affairs Minister Hubertus Heil, who is the third traffic light party for the SPD, is not sitting between them, no buffer zone is necessary. Right at the beginning, both Paus and Lindner explain how constructive they have found the joint talks over the past few days. Everything fragrant, dear people.

Very close

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Who is being ironic here?

But you don’t really buy them for their nonchalance. Lindner avoids looking at Paus. He stares straight ahead or in the opposite direction and seems almost annoyed while the green minister sums up the key points of the draft law. She speaks of a “paradigm shift”, an “important social package”. When Paus explains how strongly she has campaigned for her points of view in recent days, the finance minister can’t help but smile ironically.

In the past week, Olaf Scholz had invited both cabinet colleagues to the Chancellery several times. In meetings that sometimes lasted several hours, the chancellor had to dig deep into his box of dispute resolution tricks. It was only last night that the agreement was finally reached, the compromise. Paus and Lindner look worn out and tired, but the family minister at least tries to mime friendliness. While Lindner explains the financial details of basic child security, she remains turned to him, smiles and nods. When he says he’s satisfied, she leans in his direction and says, “You can be too.” Is that irony? Or the admission of defeat?

Not enough to end child poverty

In any case, it is Paus who has to explain the more difficult news at the federal press conference. By vetoing the Growth Opportunities Act, she didn’t get the 12 billion she originally demanded, but only 2.4 billion euros for basic child security. Is that enough to end child poverty? Paus is silent, hesitates, then says: “According to the science, it is clear that more is needed.” But the law is a good step. Lindner doesn’t change an expression.

400 million euros more, otherwise the draft law will remain largely what was in the paper before Paus’ veto and two weeks of negotiations. From 2025, basic child security should consist of child benefit and an additional child contribution that depends on age and income. There should also be a so-called “digital children’s opportunity portal” that families can use to easily overview their entitlements. The socio-cultural subsistence level is to be recalculated. There is more money for single parents, but only under certain conditions.

The finance minister says the most effective way to combat child poverty is to get parents to work. That is why work incentives were retained – in other words: no general increases in benefits for unemployed parents. Lindner probably also used the arbitration talks to put his personal stamp on the law. “Promote by demanding” is the principle on which the design is based, he explains. You can understand that as a little meanness, because “promote and challenge” was once the guiding principle of the red-green Hartz reforms. And then Lindner says: “With a view to the budget, I make the prognosis that basic child security will first be the last major social reform.”

Cotton ball incarnate

On this day, Hubertus Heil gives the cotton ball that has become human: “It’s not about who is the loser here today, it’s about the fact that the children in this country have won today.” He and his ministry tried to find a constructive solution with both parties in order to get the best out of the children. Paus nods vigorously, puts his hands together in a gesture of thanks, Lindner first smiles at Hubertus Heil, then at Lisa Paus. Then yes.

Finally, Paus is asked whether the Growth Opportunities Act is finally coming. “Well, you have to ask the finance minister,” says Paus. Lindner laughs and says: “Why, without you it would have been over a long time ago! You’re the only one here who can say anything about it.” Paus laughs too, as if he had said something funny – no, she no longer has anything against the law. The traffic light tries it with humor. Maybe she also wears that through Meseberg.