Transfer for Hartz IV
The SPD and the Union are arguing about citizen income – the CDU is threatening a blockade
The citizen money should help many people. But the Union is threatening a blockade in the Bundesrat.
© Andreas Poertner/ / Picture Alliance
The traffic light wants to help those in need better with the citizen money in the future. But from the point of view of the Union, the previous plans for citizen income set the wrong incentives – they increase the pressure.
In the dispute over the introduction of citizen income, the CDU has threatened to block the law in the Bundesrat, which requires approval. CDU General Secretary Mario Czaja told the Tagesspiegel (Sunday) that the plans in their current form would not be approved. “I assume that we will have to talk about it in the mediation committee,” said Czaja. Representatives of the traffic light parties called on the CDU not to block the project.
The Mediation Committee is a body of the Bundestag and Bundesrat that is intended to find a consensus if laws passed by the Bundestag do not find a majority in the state chamber.
Warnings and criticism from the traffic light parties
There has been a long-standing dispute in the ongoing legislative process. It is therefore unclear whether the traffic light can push through the reform as planned. In the Bundesrat, she is dependent on votes from the camp of the Union countries. A blockade could also affect the already tight schedule.
In times of high prices and a shortage of skilled workers, opposing the citizens’ income would be “a serious mistake and would harm many people and companies,” warned the deputy leader of the Greens, Andreas Audretsch. “In view of inflation and high energy prices, older people, single parents or children urgently need better support from the citizen’s income. This is a question of social peace in Germany.” Many companies need well-trained and motivated workers. “That’s exactly what citizen money is based on.”
The first parliamentary director of the SPD parliamentary group in the Bundestag, Katja Mast, called for “constructive discussions” with all those involved so that the citizens’ income could start as planned on January 1st. “The citizen’s income is one of the biggest training offensives that this country has seen,” said Mast of the “Rheinische Post” (Monday).
FDP General Secretary Bijan Djir-Sarai was irritated by the Union’s threat. “The Union-led countries should live up to their responsibilities instead of relying on party politics,” he also told the “Rheinische Post” (Monday). “Responsible politics of the largest opposition should look different.”
Union criticizes “wrong incentives” for citizen money
Citizens’ income is intended to replace the previous Hartz IV basic security. The aim of the traffic light coalition is to put those affected in a position to be able to concentrate more on further training and looking for work. They should be put under less pressure by the job center. The standard rates of basic security should increase by around 50 euros per month.
From Czaja’s point of view, the previous draft sets the wrong incentives – for example through the higher asset allowance. “Those who work must have more than those who can work and don’t do it,” said Czaja in the “Tagesspiegel”. The Union also accuses the traffic light of not encouraging the long-term unemployed to seriously look for a job.
After consultations on Friday, the Federal Council asked the traffic light government to make improvements. In some states, such as Bremen and Berlin, the aid provided for in the draft does not go far enough. The Bundestag wants to deal with the law on November 10th in the second and third reading. After that, it’s up to the Federal Council again.