5 billion euros in social aid will save Chancellor Merz

In the German coalition of the Christian Democrats, the CDU/ CSU and Social Democrats, the SPD has open disagreements about funding the German social state. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz indicated in an interview, (SAT.1) on Tuesday (02.09) that it aims to save about 10% per year to social assistance costs called “Bürgeld” - money for citizen. This savings would amount to 5 billion euros. With that, Merz mentioned in concrete figures the savings affecting the Minister of Social Affairs of Bärbel Bas from the coalition partner, the SPD, with which these days there has been public debate “how I am even earlier convinced that 10% in this system should be spared”, Merz said.

Merz criticises his minister for saying “

The current cost for social assistance “Bürgeld” currently totals about 50 billion euros annually. Asked about that, Merz said, it's about a 5 billion-euro savings. “This is a amount that should be possible”, Merz said. “So if we don't dare into a system of transfers, which is going in the wrong direction to save 10%, then fail before such a task”. For Merz this must be “the smallest”.

The German Chancellor also criticised the preference used by the Social Minister, Bass, who named it <x0-bunds” -“bulluscid” the first few days of Chancellor Merz, that the German social state is no longer financed. ” I talked to him, said Merz. “I said, we shouldn't continue this at such a level, and we won't.” According to the head of the CDU, The SPD is located in a land in an election campaign and probably has to talk like that.

German vice-kancellar Lars Klingbeil of the Social Democrats had earlier declared that he did not rule out higher taxes for those with higher incomes and rich ones. “No option will be removed from table”, SPD chairman for ZDF television. Klingbeil as finance minister has to fill the billions of dollars gap in future federal budgets.

Bas: “We're a rich”

Bass reiterated her criticism of CDU calls/ CSU for social cuts last weekend. I have to reject this because we are a rich”, SPD co-chairman told Stern magazine. “and say we should cut social security is wrong. We have to work together for more economic growth, that's the right way.” Despite the differences, Bas said, she believes that “kancellari wants to succeed with this coalion”. The Minister for Social Affairs is convinced that we have to put together to make the state “faster and more effective” and “employ people who don't have jobs”. That's why an economic dynamic is needed. Periscope