Germany’s fractious center-left coalition government has managed to agree on the Kindergrundsicherung (basic child allowance).
It bundles existing benefits and simplifies application procedures so families can more easily claim money to which they are entitled. Some €2.4 billion ($2.6 billion) has been earmarked for the implementation.
The compromise was reached after no less than four closed-door meetings of Family Minister Lisa Paus (Greens), Finance Minister Christian Lindner of the neoliberal Free Democrats (FDP) and Social Democrat Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
But leftwing lawmakers from Scholz’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) expressed dismay at the deal.
It comes at a time when the party is declining in the polls, prompting calls to refocus on social policies and ease the burden on low and medium-earners. The SPD’s parliamentary group has suggested a new rent cap, as well as subsidizing a low electricity price for companies.
Such proposals are putting the SPD lawmakers at loggerheads with the chancellor, who is seen to be siding with the Free Democrats on matters of fiscal prudence.
At a closed-door two-day meeting in Meseberg Castle this week, the Ampel (traffic light) — as this federal government is known in Germany for its parties’ colors of red (SPD), yellow (FDP) and Green — is seeking to close ranks and prove that they are indeed what they set out to be: A Fortschrittsregierung (progress government).
Just last week, draft laws were presented to reform the citizenship law and facilitate gender and name changes on documents. |
