ContestingSöder's proposition, the SPD voice their disagreement on monetary matters concerning Ukrainians
Bavarian Minister-President Markus Söder (CSU) has proposed a contentious change to the welfare system that would affect Ukrainian citizens living in Germany. The proposed change would see a reduction or abolition of full basic security benefits (Bürgergeld) for Ukrainian refugees, with Söder advocating for Ukrainians to instead receive more limited asylum seeker benefits.
Söder's argument is that the generous welfare payments, which cost Germany around €6.3 billion in 2024, discourage employment among the approximately 1.2 million Ukrainians living in the country. This proposal goes beyond the existing CDU/SPD coalition plan, which intends to cut payments only for new Ukrainian arrivals after April 2025. Söder wants all Ukrainian beneficiaries to be affected immediately with reduced asylum-level benefits rather than the current Bürgergeld support available to unemployed or low-income individuals.
The proposal has sparked political debate and controversy. Germany’s Ukrainian Ambassador Oleksii Makeiev criticized Söder’s stance as “hard to understand” and warned against making Ukrainians “scapegoats.” He emphasized that benefits are not the cause of income problems for German citizens and pointed out that about 30% of Ukrainians in Germany are already working, with many being women and children.
Experts and statistical reports from German labor market research suggest that social benefits exert only a minor influence on employment rates among Ukrainians, whose employment rate has been rising steadily and stood at 34.9% in May 2025.
The SPD, a coalition partner, opposes this proposal. Dirk Wiese, parliamentary business manager of the SPD faction, has spoken out against the proposal, doubting that it would be faster and more sustainable. He also claims that the proposed change would effectively cancel out any savings due to the additional bureaucracy.
The broader German government plans to tighten eligibility rules for unemployment benefits (Bürgergeld) in general, affecting all recipients, including Ukrainians, to ensure aid is provided only to those genuinely in need, with an emphasis on applicants meeting their obligations.
In summary, Söder’s proposal is an active political position aiming to drastically reduce welfare benefits for Ukrainians in Germany, and it has reignited national debates on refugee welfare policy, integration incentives, and budget sustainability. However, the proposal contradicts some official statistics and draws criticism from Ukrainian representatives and other political figures. It remains a contentious issue within Germany’s ruling coalition and public discourse.
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- The controversial proposal by Bavarian Minister-President Markus Söder aims to reduce full basic security benefits for Ukrainian refugees, a move that is part of the broader discussion on policy-and-legislation related to the welfare system and politics in Germany.
- The political debate surrounding Söder's proposal has garnered attention in general-news circles, with opponents such as Germany’s Ukrainian Ambassador Oleksii Makeiev criticizing the plan and emphasizing the need for continued support for Ukrainian refugees, especially considering the current employment trends among this group.
