“Balance is wrong”
Söder wants to readjust citizens’ money in the Federal Council
December 3, 2023, 12:04 a.m
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After the ruling from Karlsruhe, the Union is putting citizens’ money to the test. Bavaria’s Prime Minister announces a Federal Council initiative and demands that the increase in standard rates be postponed. Söder also sees a need for reform for the basic right to asylum.
Bavaria’s Prime Minister Markus Söder wants to fundamentally readjust citizens’ money with a Federal Council initiative. At the same time, the CSU politician called on the federal government to immediately postpone the planned increase. “The traffic light must postpone the increase planned for January by a year and start it again completely,” said Söder to “Stern”. “The benefit must be separated from escape and asylum. More motivation is needed to go to work. That’s why we will introduce an initiative in the Federal Council to completely overhaul citizens’ money. Because the balance between support and demand is not right.”
Even before the introduction of citizens’ money, the Union-led states had intervened through the Federal Council, emphasized Söder. “We made improvements back then, for example when it came to the question of sanctions. But citizens’ money did not pass the practical test. The overall level is too high. Anyone who works must receive noticeably more than someone who does not work. That is why we need changes.” Söder further told the magazine: “The expensive citizen’s money creates completely the wrong incentives. It won’t work that way.”
“Social benefits for asylum seekers only after five years”
Söder also called for a stop to citizen’s benefit payments to newly arriving Ukrainian refugees. “It would not be legal to delete something retroactively. But we have to change course for all new cases,” said the CSU politician. “And for everyone else who comes to us, social benefits should only be available after five years instead of after 18 months.”
The subsistence level will not be shaken, said Söder. “But we will process the benefits for asylum seekers in Bavaria, for example, using payment cards for clothing and food, instead of cash. This will also reduce incentives. And we will have to soberly examine whether our constitution still fits reality in every respect when it comes to the basic right to asylum .”