Promoting immediate change to the citizen's income system is Merz's aim. - Speeding up pension reform for citizens being sought by Merz
Germany's federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) and Social Minister Barbel Bas (SPD) have expressed their support for a comprehensive reform of the citizen income, aiming to strike a balance between incentives and requirements, with a focus on encouraging people to enter or return to the labor market.
The coalition commission for the reform of the citizen's income, involving the CDU/CSU and SPD parties, has already discussed the reform in the coalition committee in the week before the current reporting. The commission's establishment and discussions took place on a Monday in Berlin, with concrete talks happening in the coalition committee the previous week.
In a conciliatory dinner the evening before the coalition committee meeting, Merz and Bas affirmed their good relationship, with both leaders agreeing that the social state needs to be reformed. Bas, who has initiated the social state commission, emphasised the need for quick examination of all state benefits and the aim to control misuse.
Bas has stated that she has never opposed reform of the citizen income and shares Merz's commitment to not dismantle, abolish, or cut the social state. However, she was cautious about Merz's demand for savings of five billion euros in the citizen income, stating that it depends on the economy picking up.
The reform aims to bundle benefits in a way that saves costs overall, with Bas prioritising maintaining jobs and stimulating the economy. Merz has expressed his commitment to not dismantle, abolish, or cut the social state, and both leaders can live with clear words.
Bas expressed confidence that the Union (CDU/CSU) and SPD will succeed in the necessary social reforms, with the coalition commission planning to complete the reform by the end of the year. The four party leaders of the coalition will have specific discussions about this reform.
The social state commission meeting started on Monday in Berlin, marking an important step towards a potential overhaul of Germany's social welfare system. With both Merz and Bas agreeing on the need for reform and their commitment to maintaining the social state's most important functions, the future of the citizen income in Germany appears to be undergoing significant changes.
