CDU's Employee Wing Slams Merz's Basic Income Suspension Proposal
The employee wing of the CDU/CSU, led by Deputy Federal Chairman Christian Bäumler, strongly disagreed with CDU party leader Friedrich Merz's proposal to suspend the increase in basic income. Bäumler argued that discussing social cuts should end immediately, as Merz's suggestion only unsettles people and fails to stabilize the economy.
Merz had advocated for waiving the increase in citizens' contributions at the beginning of the year due to inflation. He believed an increase of twelve percent was excessive, as it could weaken the incentive to secure employment. In response to this, Bäumler commented that the issue was not the basic income itself, but rather the low wages in the lower-income sector. He proposed an increase in the minimum wage to 60% of the median income, currently standing at 14 euros per hour.
The FDP, on the other hand, did not dismiss the issue of adjusting the planned increase in citizens' benefits at the beginning of 2024 altogether. FDP parliamentary group leader Christian Dürr acknowledged the need to reevaluate the calculation method of the citizens' allowance as part of the budget discussions. He highlighted the significance of ensuring those who work always have more disposable income than those who do not.
Additional Insights
The CDU, a conservative political party in Germany, has proposed various strategies for social welfare, including stricter border controls for undocumented residents and limiting social benefits for those required to leave Germany. However, their current stance on suspending the increase in basic income remains uncertain.
Despite being against Merz's proposal, it's essential to note that the employee wing of the CDU is open to creating a new framework for investments in the federal budget. They are currently discussing strategies for implementing this, such as supplementing the debt brake with a special fund for climate protection.
