Citizens' money instead of Hartz IV: Baerbock defends plans - CDU Economic Council speaks of "fog candle"

"Will still have to wrestle": The traffic light explorers want to abolish Hartz IV.

Green leader Baerbock expects difficult talks, there is already criticism.

Berlin - "We want to change more than just the name of the basic security": Green leader Annalena Baerbock has defended plans to move away from Hartz IV.

Before their traffic light coalition talks, the SPD, Greens and FDP had agreed to replace Hartz IV with citizens' money.

She told the

media group that in the case of citizen money, it must be ensured that “it is clearly worthwhile for people to take up a job, even if it is only a small position”.

At the same time, the standard rates must allow a life in dignity and participation in society, demanded Baerbock.

The SPD, Greens and FDP have "so far defined this in guidelines, but we will still have to wrestle in the coalition negotiations".

Plans for Hartz IV: DGB insists on subsistence level

The CDU Economic Council and the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB), however, expressed clear doubts.

DGB boss Reiner Hoffmann called on the SPD, Greens and FDP to use the opportunity “for a fundamental redesign of the Hartz IV system”.

"Hartz IV has to be overcome and not just renamed," Hoffmann told the

newspapers.

In order to effectively prevent poverty, the standard rates would have to be recalculated: "The DGB rejects cuts in the subsistence level," said Hoffmann.

Instead of the "nodding that we have experienced many times today", integration goals should be mutually agreed, further training offers improved and further training allowances introduced.

CDU criticizes planned citizen money as a "smoke candle"

The General Secretary of the CDU Economic Council, Wolfgang Steiger, criticized the citizens' money as a "smoke candle because the design remains far too vague".

He emphasized that at least the obligation to cooperate should remain.

"There must be no right to be lazy at the expense of hard-working taxpayers," said Steiger to the Funke-Blätter.

Those who are supported by the solidarity community with transfer payments must do everything possible to reintegrate into the labor market, said the council chairman.

He also spoke out against an increase in current salaries and demanded “that the level of basic security remains essentially unchanged”.

The social network should not “become a permanent option”.

List of rubric lists: © Ralf Homburg / Lobeca / Imago