Markus Söder advocates for eliminating universal basic income for all Ukrainian citizens. - Markus Söder proposes to withdraw all citizenship benefits for Ukrainians
Markus Söder, the Bavarian Prime Minister and leader of the Christian Social Union (CSU), has proposed a controversial plan to reduce social benefits for Ukrainian refugees in Germany. In an interview with ZDF, Söder called for an end to the higher "citizen's allowance" that Ukrainian refugees currently receive, instead providing only the lower benefits accorded to asylum seekers.
Söder's proposal comes amidst growing concerns over the financial sustainability of the current system, which is estimated to cost around €6.3 billion in 2024, nearly 30% of the welfare budget. The CSU leader argues that the generous support creates unequal conditions, discourages employment among Ukrainians despite their good qualifications, and is financially unsustainable.
However, Söder's proposal diverges significantly from the existing coalition agreement between the CDU and SPD, which commits the government to maintain civil assistance—specifically the current higher level of benefits—for Ukrainian refugees. The SPD has strongly criticized Söder’s initiative as irrational, harmful, and likely to increase administrative burdens without producing real savings. They also emphasize that the coalition government supports a unified approach consistent with the coalition agreement.
According to a recent Insa poll, the AfD has reached a 25% approval rating, marking the first time since mid-May. The AfD has gained slightly in the Insa Sunday Trend poll, conducted by the market research institute for "Bild am Sonntag." However, Söder continues to rule out cooperation with the AfD, stating that the party needs to fundamentally change its people and content, its style and tone, and exclude many, many people in a self-cleaning process.
The current approval ratings for the major political parties in Germany are as follows: the SPD is at 15%, the Greens at 11%, and the Left at 10%. The CDU and CSU maintain their 27% approval rating from the previous week.
The coalition contract of the black-red federal government set April 1 of this year as the cut-off date for citizen's income for Ukrainians who come after that date. Söder suggests expanding the party's observation and instead proposes that those who come after April 1 will only receive lower asylum seeker benefits and no more citizen's income if they can prove need.
This proposal has stirred political tensions within the German government, reflecting a debate over how best to balance refugee welfare, integration, and public finances. The new government and ministers have made important shifts in foreign policy, defense, migration, and the economy, according to Söder. However, the question remains whether these changes will be enough to address the financial challenges posed by the current refugee situation in Germany.
The Commission has also been consulted on the draft directive regarding Söder's proposal, given its implications on policy-and-legislation and general news. The ongoing debate over refugee welfare, integration, and public finances is a significant political issue, involving discussions within the German government and beyond.
