The CDU wants to rename the citizen’s money, which was reformed in 2023, and abolish it in its current form. SPD leader Klingbeil rejected the demands. For the SPD, social security and economic strength went together.
SPD leader Lars Klingbeil has rejected the CDU’s demands for comprehensive changes to citizens’ money. In Berlin he said: “The amount of citizens’ money is determined by a constitutional court decision. This has now been implemented, with the consent of the Union, by the way.” It is right that the state provides people in need with insurance. “We need to have other debates than attacks on the welfare state,” he said.
The CDU and CSU accused Klingbeil of playing off economic stability and social security against each other. The Union’s answers for a strong business location include lower pensions and a higher retirement age. For the SPD, however, social security and economic strength belonged together.
CDU: The name “citizens’ money” is misleading
The CDU wants to fundamentally change the support system of citizens’ money. “The name ‘citizen’s money’ is misleading and is an expression of the political concept of an unconditional basic income,” says a draft resolution for a meeting of the Federal Executive Board on Monday ARD capital studio is present. “We clearly reject this concept.” The CDU wants to rename the citizen’s money “New Basic Security” and “abolish it in its current form”.
The draft resolution states, for example, that with the introduction of citizens’ money, “incentives against taking up work and overtime” were created. “We are calling for a reform of the additional earnings limits in order to increase the financial incentives to work in general or to take on more work, so that people actually have more money in their pockets at the end of the month.”
One of the CDU’s demands is that in future an asset check should be carried out again from the first day of basic security. The limits for protected assets should also be lowered.
Big reform last year
After a reform by the traffic light coalition at the beginning of 2023, citizens’ benefit replaced the Hartz IV (unemployment benefit II) system. 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.
Evi Seibert, ARD Berlin, tagesschau, March 16, 2024 5:28 p.m