The CDU has started a new debate about citizens’ money. The traffic light coalition is divided over the new concept. But social associations also outdo each other with different arguments.
The CDU leadership wants to radically restructure citizens’ money. Only those who cannot “make a living through their own work or assets” should benefit from the “new basic security”. “Citizens’ money is based too much on solidarity and not enough on personal responsibility,” said NRW Social Minister Karl-Josef Laumann. The CDU concept envisages tougher sanctions for those who completely refuse to do reasonable work. “If a basic security recipient who is able to work refuses work that is reasonable for him (“total refuser”) without any objective reason, it should be assumed in the future that he is not in need,” it says.
This is legally possible, emphasized the former President of the Federal Social Court, Rainer Schlegel. The “total refusers” are a very small group among the current recipients of citizens’ benefit. However, it is also about giving people the feeling that things are being done fairly, emphasized Laumann.
Traffic light coalition disagrees on citizen’s money issue
The Greens and SPD criticized the concept as an “attack on the welfare state”. Here, scaremongering is being carried out on the backs of the weakest, said Green co-chair Ricarda Lang. “The content remains incorrect.” SPD co-leader Lars Klingbeil had previously made critical comments. It is right that the state also sticks to giving people a minimum subsistence level and providing them with social security. Klingbeil also spoke of an “attack on the welfare state.” The amount of citizens’ money is determined by a constitutional court decision, he said in response to the criticism that the increase was too high. The mechanism was decided with the consent of the Union and therefore there will be no changes.
The liberal coalition partner is different: the FDP welcomed the CDU initiative. In their concept, however, the Christian Democrats made use of the FDP’s political ideas, said FDP deputy parliamentary group leader Christoph Meyer. “It’s nice to see that the CDU is now following the FDP programmatically,” emphasized Meyer.
Social associations praise and criticize the CDU’s reform plans
The German Caritas Association partially agreed with the Union’s proposals. The President of the German Caritas Association, Eva Welskop-Deffaa, said that the concept of basic security is better suited to the “enabling character of the benefit system” than citizen’s money.
Employers’ President Rainer Dulger also welcomed the CDU’s plans to reform and tighten citizens’ benefits. “We need a fundamental overhaul of the citizens’ money system,” said Dulger to the German Press Agency in Berlin.
On the other hand, the chairwoman of the Social Association of Germany (SoVD), Michaela Engelmeier, described the debate as “unspeakable” because “prejudices against people receiving basic social security were once again being fueled.” Instead of fighting for better wages and ensuring that work is really worth it, the CDU is playing the poorest in society against each other. “This only fuels discord in our society and encourages the enemies of democracy.”
VdK President Verena Bentele warned against possible implementation and described parts of the plans as unconstitutional. “I have the impression that the election campaign is being launched very early with populist attacks against citizens’ money,” Bentele told the newspapers of the editorial network Germany (Tuesday editions). Bentele emphasized that the constitutionally protected subsistence minimum does not allow for any politically set limits on the standard rates.
The German Federation of Trade Unions (DGB) and the Arbeiterwohlfahrt also expressed their opposition. Some of them accused the CDU of attacking the welfare state.
Plea for an “accurate welfare state”
Employer President Dulger said: “We have to turn the welfare state upside down.” What is needed is an effective welfare state that focuses on those in need and is resistant to abuse. “I therefore welcome the CDU’s proposals for citizens’ money.”
The CDU wants to implement sanctions faster, more easily and less bureaucratically. If a recipient of basic security who is able to work refuses work that is reasonable for him (“total refuser”) without any objective reason, it should be assumed in the future that he is not in need, says the party resolution. “The name “citizen’s money” is misleading and is an expression of the political concept of an unconditional basic income.”
Dulger said: “We have almost four million people in the citizen’s benefit system who can work – that’s too high.” In order for workers to arrive in companies, the focus must be much more on activating and placing them in work. Dulger called for obligations to cooperate, “which must also be demanded in practice.”
Criticism from the ranks of the Christian Democrats
However, criticism of parts of the CDU plans also comes from its own social wing. The vice-chairman of the Christian Democratic Workers’ Association (CDA), Christian Bäumler, told Südwestrundfunk (SWR) that a complete and permanent abolition of basic security would be incompatible with the Christian view of humanity. “In a country like Germany, we must not let anyone starve or become homeless.” Bäumler is CDA state head in Baden-Württemberg and thus also contradicted CDA federal head Karl-Josef Laumann, who had described the concept as a “very balanced proposal”.
Job centers can cut off citizen’s benefit for unemployed people for a maximum of two months if those affected consistently refuse to take up work. The traffic light coalition initiated these tightening measures as part of its austerity measures for the federal budget.
Expert for “middle ground”
Labor market researcher Enzo Weber from the Institute for Labor Market and Vocational Research (IAB) in Nuremberg sees a need for corrections at some points in the citizen’s benefit system, but advocates a “middle ground”. “The traffic light coalition had significantly relaxed the sanctions rules, the CDU now wants to tighten them too much,” he told “Welt”. “It would be better to find a middle ground, for example to reduce benefits more quickly and for a longer period of time if people refuse to take up work, instead of stopping them altogether.”
After a reform by the traffic light coalition at the beginning of 2023, citizens’ benefit replaced the previous Hartz IV basic security (unemployment benefit II). It is intended to secure a living for people who can work but whose income is not enough to live on. Those affected should be helped to gain a foothold in the labor market with advice, training and further education.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
