Planned citizen money: Lindner warns of “shabby competition”

Despite the adjustments to the traffic light plans for citizen income, the dispute over the Hartz IV successor does not stop. Criticism continues to come from the CDU. Finance Minister Lindner meanwhile warned against a “shabby competition” in the case of spare assets.

Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner has rejected the criticism of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group on the new citizens’ allowance. “I regret the populist impulse of the Union, which does not recognize that this is about life’s work,” Lindner told the “Welt am Sonntag”. Above all, he advises the Union against “entering a shabby competition” with the planned amount of the protective assets.

According to government plans, citizen income is to replace Hartz IV on January 1st. However, the Union is threatening to block the Bundesrat. She is particularly bothered by the amount of the protective assets up to which state aid can be drawn. According to the government plans, singles should be allowed to keep up to 60,000 euros in savings in the first two years, each additional person in the household an additional 30,000 euros.

“If people slipped into the cover due to a stroke of fate, they shouldn’t have to eat what they might have built up over decades,” Lindner continued. Citizens’ income rewards additional income and qualifications, while refusal to participate is sanctioned. “The basic income does not replace Hartz IV with laxity, but with a more performance principle,” said the FDP politician.

Traffic light plans changes

In order to prevent the Union from being blocked in the Bundesrat, the SPD, Greens and FDP had agreed on changes to the bill. The coalition still wants to achieve the approval of the Union. The amendment is before several news agencies. As can be seen from a formulation aid to the SPD, Greens and FDP parliamentary groups, there should be some tightening of the planned two-year waiting period for benefit recipients.

It is planned, for example, that the heating costs during this time should only be covered to an appropriate extent. The government’s original draft bill did not provide for a limit on reimbursement at this point. Among other things, the Union had sharply criticized this, which had also threatened to block the project in the Federal Council because of other criticisms.

CDU politician speaks of cosmetics

However, the Union continues to criticize the planned concept for citizen income – even after changes. “Our criticism remains: Citizens’ money is a departure from the principle of promoting and demanding,” said the head of the SME and Economic Union, the CDU member of the Bundestag Gitta Connemann, the dpa news agency in Berlin.

The promised adjustments did not change the substance of the citizens’ income. The new traffic light draft provides for stricter rules for recipients of citizen income, for example if they want to move to a more expensive apartment. “These are not serious changes – these are cosmetic,” said Connemann. “There are still no serious incentives to go back to work. Money should still be paid, even if there is no willingness to perform.”