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CDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann: Strong criticism of reform plans

Photo: Michael Kappeler / dpa

Proposals from the CDU for a comprehensive reform of social policy are causing significant resistance among social associations.

The president of the social association VdK, 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 Germany editorial network.

The CDU presented its plan to move away from citizens' money on Monday.

The Union doesn't just want to delete the name “citizens' money”.

She also wants to significantly tighten the rules under which the unemployed receive benefits from the state.

In extreme cases, it should be possible to stop receiving state support altogether if recipients refuse to do reasonable work.

In addition, the protective assets should be reduced and the annual increase in payments should be limited.

The subsistence minimum, which is protected by the constitution, does not allow for any politically set limits on the standard rates, said Bentele.

She also criticized the CDU's demand for a reduction in the limit for protected assets.

“The fact that the CDU also wants to remove all protective barriers to housing and savings is a threat, especially for older employees and self-employed people who have to reorient themselves because of the transformation of the labor market.” This will “particularly affect those who have built something up through hard work have for old age.”

The head of the German Social Association, Michaela Engelmeier, called it “unspeakable” that the debate was “again fueling prejudices against people receiving basic security.”

Either the Union has no insight into the realities of life of those receiving citizens' benefit or is consciously creating a "populist caricature" in order to derive political benefit from it, Engelmeier told the Funke newspapers.

With the current standard requirements, no major financial leaps are possible.

The SPD, the Greens, the Left Party, the German Federation of Trade Unions (DGB) and the Workers' Welfare Association also expressed their opposition.

Some of them accused the CDU of attacking the welfare state.

Employer president defends CDU plans

CSU leader Markus Söder, however, said that the sister party was fully behind the CDU plans.

Employers' President Rainer Dulger also welcomed the CDU's plans to reform and tighten citizens' benefits.

“We need a thorough overhaul of the citizen’s money system,” Dulger told the dpa news agency.

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.”

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.

fek/dpa/AFP