Involvement of the Commission extended to the execution of the plan.
Sonja Bongers, the Chairwoman of the SPD city council fraction, has taken issue with the CDU (Christian Democratic Union) over their use of the term "citizens' allowance" (Bürgergeld) in relation to the idea of a basic income.
The CDU and its coalition partners have proposed or discussed social welfare reforms under this name, aiming to modernize and adjust unemployment benefits and social support. However, Bongers argues that the CDU's "citizens' allowance" is not a true basic income.
According to Bongers, the CDU's proposal remains a conditional welfare benefit tied to strict rules, obligations, and means-testing, unlike a basic income which is unconditional and universal. She sees the CDU’s framing as misleading, using the popular term "citizens'" or "basic" to soften the perception of conservative welfare cuts or restrictions.
Bongers warns that such terminology risks confusing the public and undermining the political push for truly unconditional welfare reform. This criticism fits within a larger debate in Germany and other countries about social safety nets, unemployment benefits, and how to address poverty and economic precarity.
In a separate matter, Bongers congratulated Simone-Tatjana Stehr on her election as the new CDU district chairwoman. She expressed hope that the CDU will remain a serious conversation partner in the political landscape of Oberhausen.
The change at the top of Oberhausen's CDU occurred on Tuesday, with Stehr being elected as the successor to Wilhelm Hausmann. Bongers believes that some of the statements made by the new CDU chairwoman during her campaign speech were likely aimed at the upcoming election.
This news article highlights Sonja Bongers' critique of the CDU's use of the term "citizens' allowance" and her concerns about the potential for confusion in the public discourse surrounding social welfare reform. It also reports on the election of Simone-Tatjana Stehr as the new CDU district chairwoman of Oberhausen.
The article highlights Sonja Bongers' criticism of the CDU's use of the term "citizens' allowance" in relation to their proposed social welfare reforms, stating that it is not a true basic income due to its conditional nature. This critique fits within a larger debate about social safety nets, unemployment benefits, and poverty alleviation. Additionally, the article reports on Bongers' congratulations to Simone-Tatjana Stehr on her election as the new CDU district chairwoman of Oberhausen, expressing hope for continued meaningful dialogue between the SPD and the CDU in the city's politics and policy-and-legislation.
