Erfurt (dpa/th) - Thuringia's CDU parliamentary group leader Mario Voigt continues to reject the traffic light package on citizen income despite the recent corrections. "The traffic light's attempt to calm it down is far from sufficient," Voigt told the German Press Agency. He described the changes as a "sedative pill".
According to the federal government's plans, the citizen's income is to replace the previous Hartz IV basic security on January 1st. The aim is to put those affected in a position to be able to concentrate more on further training and looking for work. You should get less pressure from the job center. The standard rates of basic security should also increase by around 50 euros per month.
Changes to the draft by the SPD, Greens and FDP parliamentary groups became known on Friday. The traffic light factions hoped to appease the critics on the part of the CDU and CSU. Among other things, the factions had tightened the two-year waiting period - a kind of closed period with milder regulations - worked out.
With a motion in the Thuringian state parliament, the Thuringian CDU parliamentary group wants to get the red-red-green state government to vote against the plans in the Bundesrat. "Instead of effectively bringing people back to their wages and bread, an all-round carefree package is put together that shoulders the hard-working people," Voigt complained. In his opinion, the traffic light says goodbye to the principle of promoting and demanding. "I don't think it's fair if that's at the expense of people who earn just above minimum wage and have to calculate accurately every month." However, the CDU parliamentary group does not complain about the increase in funds in view of the increased prices.
Federal CDU leader Friedrich Merz also reiterated his criticism of citizen money on Sunday. "The citizen who is initially responsible for himself is becoming more and more a recipient of benefits with the citizen's income," wrote Merz on Sunday on the short message service Twitter.
Thuringia's Prime Minister Bodo Ramelow (left) warned last week of a blockade on citizen income in the Bundesrat by states with Union participation and accused the Union of wanting to abuse the state chamber as a blocking instrument. Ramelow was President of the Federal Council from November 2021 to October 2022.
