Sven Schulze (CDU) spoke in an interview with the "Rheinische Post" about the challenges of the citizens' income system. He emphasized that there are too many cases where the state pays benefits without requiring any return. This is unfair to those who finance the system, as well as to people who work despite difficult circumstances, such as single parents or those on supplementary benefits.
Schulze demanded that individuals who are fully capable of working and refuse job offers should be more strongly obligated to engage in community service. "Those who sit at home doing nothing from Monday to Friday should not be allowed to continue like this," he stated. He pointed to the many job vacancies in Saxony-Anhalt, particularly in agriculture, and criticized that the potential of benefit recipients is not being utilized adequately.
The Prime Minister lamented the "too many excuses" for not accepting work and called for a more consistent enforcement of possible changes in social law. His demands are part of an internal course within the Union to impose stricter sanctions on citizens' income recipients. However, Schulze will have little influence on this matter, as social policy is a federal responsibility.
Schulze's demands may also be motivated by pressure from the far right, as the CDU currently only achieves 26 percent in polls, while the AfD stands at 41 percent. In September, Schulze will be running for election and is thus under pressure to clearly communicate his positions.
