Basic child security: This is what the press says about the agreement

It was the reason for months of trouble between the Greens and the FDP: Now, shortly before the cabinet meeting at Meseberg Castle, the traffic light coalition has agreed on basic child security. Some of the negotiations were “really tough,” said Family Minister Lisa Paus when the results were presented in Berlin on Monday. “But it was worth it.” According to the Greens politician, additional costs of 2.4 billion euros are initially estimated for the introduction of basic child security in 2025.

Up to 5.6 million families threatened by poverty and their children would receive the services faster, easier and more directly, said Paus. The result is the most comprehensive social reform in many years. Government circles said that with increasing use of basic child security services, the costs could also rise to up to six billion euros in the following years.

This is how German media rate the traffic light agreement:

“Weser Courier”: “Paus initially wanted twelve, but in the end still 3.5 billion euros from Lindner – now she closes at 2.4. And Lindner hastens to point out that the real plus for the children is only 0.4, So 400 million. You have to be blessed with robust stubbornness to praise yourself, like Paus, for this ‘clear increase in the socio-cultural subsistence level.’ The proof can also be measured in terms of time: the first claim date should be January 1, 2025; convenient , because it is digital, the children’s benefits will have to be applied for ‘in the next few years’. Maybe never – because who wants to be governed so selfishly and undemandingly for another four years?”

“New Osnabrück newspaper”: “For the total of 5.6 million children from households threatened by poverty, a basic child security scheme ‘light’ is being launched: since Lindner’s watering can is already pretty much empty, only the 0 to 6-year-olds will trickle out eight euros more per month. The reform shrinks to what should actually be a matter of course: that families who are entitled to help from the state also receive the benefits and do not go away empty-handed due to ignorance or bureaucratic hurdles.However, so far this has only been a promise. Because it will be years before a ‘Children’s Opportunity Portal’ ends the gauntlet of family benefits and job centers and the application process becomes digital child’s play.”

Agreement on basic child security is “politically good news”.

“Rhine Palatinate”: “Regardless of the content of the agreement: The fact that Chancellor Scholz (SPD), Federal Finance Minister Lindner (FDP) and Federal Minister for Family Affairs Paus (Greens) have agreed on the essential content of basic child security is politically good news. It was high time after the months of displeasure. Also because it is no longer just about solving the problem of child poverty. In the meantime, several questions are swirling around the traffic lights in the background. For example, whether the stock of common ground is already running out by the halfway point in the legislative period. Or who : What about the coalition’s ability to govern and the Chancellor’s will to lead?”

“Hanoversche Allgemeine Zeitung”: “Child poverty will not disappear with this reform. But it must be combated on more levels than direct financial aid. Sufficient crèche and daycare places and a school system in which children from disadvantaged families are specifically supported are in the fight against child poverty the central lever. Parents often also need support and advice in order to open up opportunities for their children that they did not have themselves.”

“Stuttgart Newspaper”: “The loser in the political dispute is the Minister for Family Affairs. That’s a pity – because if she had been smarter, many children could have benefited more from the reform. The fact that Paus has meanwhile stopped the Finance Minister’s Growth Opportunities Act in the dispute over money for basic child security doesn’t bother her brought in an additional euro. She proceeded without a concept – and she did not succeed in making the public her ally in the highly emotional issue of child poverty.”

“Heilbronner voice”: “The big unknown is how many people will use the basic child security system. The 2.4 billion euros for 2025 is based on the assumption that only 48 percent of those entitled will make use of it. If there are more, the costs will rise. They want more money But FDP finance ministers don’t pay. If the number of recipients increases, that would be a capitulation of labor market policy – for which the SPD and the Greens are responsible. Basic child security is therefore subject to major reservations. Its success is capped, digitizing the authorities will be difficult. That’s how it is Reform not a big hit.”

“Nuremberg newspaper”: It is not yet foreseeable what effect the basic child security will have at all. Can the affected children participate better in social life if their parents receive more money from the state? One can only hope so. Families in precarious circumstances would almost certainly be helped if they had a reliable, well-equipped care infrastructure in terms of staff and content – which would also cost many billions more. Then, in turn, the affected parents could work more again – or be put into work at all.

“Handelsblatt”: “It remains to be seen whether the implementation will really succeed. The necessary administrative changes are enormous. And here, too, the delayed digitization of the administration raises doubts. The reform must reach around 2.5 million children and young people. According to experts, more than any fifth child is at risk of poverty. It doesn’t make any difference whether it’s the children of immigrants. Children are children. However, we will also have to talk about incentives for parents to work. Because child poverty is primarily the result of parental poverty.”

“Rhein-Zeitung”: “The real innovation of this reform lies in the fact that measures are to be bundled and digitized and in some cases even paid out automatically. However, how little the traffic light trusts in the implementation of this digitization can be seen from the fact that even after a few years one does not expect that all those entitled to claim will receive the money automatically. In view of this, the reform seems far less spectacular. At the same time, this makes it clear how important it remains to expand all-day childcare with extensive, high-quality day-care centers and schools, because children living in poverty would also benefit directly from this .”

“Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung”: “In the dispute over basic child security, the traffic light coalition threatened to gamble away the rest of the reputation it still has. (…) The additional sum that is now to be used is far from what (…) Lisa Paus had dreamed of. Christian Lindner was right in his resistance. The quality of the law is not measured by how big the bag of money it takes. The causes of child poverty have been talked about far too seldom and whether the state can actually remedy the situation through social benefits better would be, what the coalition does not have, a clever economic policy and what the federal states cannot bring about, an education boom. There is even less talk of whether the project keeps what it promises beyond the money Doubts warranted.”