As of: February 14, 2024, 5:37 p.m
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Ursula Nonnenmacher, Minister for Social Affairs of Brandenburg.
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Brandenburg's Prime Minister Woidke believes that a sufficiently high amount of citizens' money is necessary, but in his opinion a twelve percent increase is too high.
He is not only criticized for this by his coalition partner the Greens.
Potsdam - Brandenburg's Social Minister Ursula Nonnemacher (Greens) has criticized statements by Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke (SPD) about increasing citizens' money.
“I warn against stirring up resentment against socially disadvantaged people who can usually do little to meet their needs,” said Nonnemacher, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, to the German Press Agency.
“Increasing the citizen's allowance by twelve percent is an important step in the fight against poverty.” This also helps people who receive basic security in old age or who can no longer work for health reasons.
“The debate about budget savings must not be conducted on the backs of these people.”
Woidke had described the extent of the increase in citizens' money as a mistake.
“From today's perspective, looking back, it was wrong, but afterwards we are all smarter,” said the SPD politician on Deutschlandfunk last week.
Inflation has not developed as dramatically as originally assumed.
“The federal government assumed a very high number; perhaps it could have been done differently.” The next increase will be lower.
“Maybe there will even be a cut.”
Economics Minister Jörg Steinbach (SPD) corrected the head of government at this point: “The law does not provide for a cut at this point,” said Steinbach on Wednesday in the state parliament’s economic committee.
The minister explained that as long as there is inflation - even if it is ideally below two percent - this cannot result in any reduction in future updates to the levels of standard requirements.
Woidke also called for enough distance from wages: "I do believe that when it comes to citizens' benefit, we always have to make sure that people who work get significantly more out of it than people who don't go to work." But he generally believes that it is Sufficient amount of citizens' money is necessary: "If we look at the constitutional court rulings, the legal framework, but also the situation of people who cannot work for a variety of reasons, then it is justified to pay reasonable money here."
The Green politician warned of polarization.
“We have to strengthen cohesion instead of pitting low-income earners against the unemployed, older people and single parents in polarizing debates,” said Nonnemacher.
“Prices have been rising for a long time.
It's not just food and energy that have become significantly more expensive.
This disproportionately affects people with low incomes.”
Left faction leader Sebastian Walter also criticized Woidke.
“There is no point in pitting the poor against the even poorer,” said Walter on Tuesday, referring to people who receive low wages and recipients of community benefit.
He demanded from Woidke's red-black-green state government that the awarding of public contracts be tied to compliance with collective agreements.
“He can now prove that he is serious about higher wages in this country.”
Last week, Green Party leader Hanna Große Holtrup warned Woidke to step down, while CDU General Secretary Gordon Hoffmann accused him of acting like a “flag in the wind.”
Anyone who is able to work but cannot make a living on their own receives citizen's benefit.
As of January 1, 2024, this payment has increased significantly - by twelve percent.
The federal government explained the increase by saying that food prices in particular had risen and that the price index as the basis for standard requirements had increased more than the general consumer price index.
dpa