Returned once more.

The black-red federal government, a coalition led by the SPD and Greens, is considering a return to the controversial Hartz IV welfare system, a policy associated with poverty. This potential move marks a departure from the traffic light coalition's earlier stance of respectful treatment of the unemployed.

The SPD and Greens have abandoned their earlier commitment to a dignified approach towards the unemployed within the traffic light coalition. Despite this shift, the Union and SPD have agreed not to work against each other in the "autumn of reforms" announced by the Chancellor, despite some verbal differentiation maneuvers by the Social Democrats.

The black-red coalition's policies extend beyond welfare reform, as they have also introduced tax cuts for companies and the wealthy, reduced the top tax rate from 53% to 42%, and raised the retirement age to 67.

The Hartz IV regime was initially implemented by the red-green federal government, led by former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The return to this regime, if implemented, would signal a return to a punitive state.

Chancellor's Office Minister Thorsten Frei has urged acceleration in the citizen's allowance reform and claimed that the savings of five billion euros annually are "very realistic." SPD General Secretary Tim Klüssendorf, on the other hand, has called for increased spending in the citizen's allowance area, particularly for qualification and integration measures.

Federal Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, Barbara Steffens (SPD), has announced performance cuts for citizen's income recipients and a zero round for citizen's income in 2026. The new basic security, replacing the citizen's allowance, will have different waiting periods, different feasibility rules, and the priority of job placement will apply.

The priority of job placement means that the unemployed will no longer be allowed to refuse job offers far below their qualifications. This policy shift has sparked criticism and concern among some, as it could potentially force individuals into unsuitable employment.

SPD Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil has praised former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder for his courage in social policy reforms, highlighting Schröder's past contributions to reforming Germany's social systems. However, Schröder's unbreakable friendship with Russian President Vladimir Putin and his activities for Russian energy companies after leaving politics are embarrassing to the Social Democrats.

Bremen's mayor Andreas Bovenschulte has criticized the Union for not saying where another 25 billion euros should be saved to plug the budget hole. The CDU and CSU, the main opposition parties, often refer positively to the initial implementation of Hartz IV by the red-green government.

The Social State Commission, appointed by Steffens, is looking for savings potential in several social benefits. The commission's findings and the government's decision on whether to implement the return to Hartz IV will shape the future of Germany's social welfare system.