Mützenich wants to “address” the misuse of citizens’ money

by times news cr

Federal election

Mützenich wants to “address” the misuse of citizens’ money

Updated on December 28, 2024Reading time: 2 min.

Lindner and Mützenich: Is there anything else possible? (archive image). (Source: Jutrczenka Nietfeld/dpa/dpa-bilder)

The SPD parliamentary group leader is open to improvements to citizens’ money. He also has an opinion about renewed cooperation with the FDP.

The SPD parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich wants to combat abuse of citizens’ money more effectively if his party participates in government again. “Our basic idea was and is that people are supported according to their strengths and come back into the job market. It should stay that way,” Mützenich told the editorial network Germany (RND). “But I think it’s right not to let someone take advantage of the system. If we have the opportunity to do so, we would take action in a new government.”

In doing so, Mützenich took a step towards critics from other parties who want to reform citizens’ money or even abolish it in its current form. He added: “Perhaps some people stay in the citizen’s benefit system for too long. And some of the refugees from Ukraine have apparently skimmed off added value that is not justified.”

With the introduction of citizens’ money in 2023, the basic security previously known as Hartz IV was replaced. The Union also supported the traffic light’s prestige socio-political project after it was able to impose stricter measures in a mediation process between the Bundestag and Bundesrat. But citizens’ money soon fell into disrepute among many. Criticism is that the job centers promote too much and demand too little.

After the traffic lights went out, Mützenich does not rule out a new coalition with the FDP, despite the loss of trust. “I would have difficulties with Mr. Lindner, but one cannot fundamentally rule out collaboration with Democrats,” he told the RND. Mützenich called the FDP’s actions before the coalition collapse on November 6th the worst breach of trust that he had experienced in his political work.

But he was even more shocked by the FDP’s “D-Day paper”, which shows a detailed scenario for the FDP’s exit from the traffic lights. “Terms like ‘field battle’ or ‘torpedo’ bring back memories and emotions for me. My father was below deck in the Second World War, and warships on which he served were sunk.” You can’t conflate the fall of a government with the suffering of a war generation, said Mützenich.

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier dissolved the Bundestag on Friday, clearing the way for his new election. This is scheduled to take place on February 23rd next year – the election campaign is already in full swing.

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