Sven Schulze (CDU) wants to end the principle of "money without return." The Prime Minister of Saxony-Anhalt expressed his views in an interview with "Post" and called for a stricter approach towards fully employable citizens' income recipients. He believes it is unfair for the state to pay benefits without demanding anything in return, while others, such as single parents or individuals undergoing retraining, are disadvantaged despite working under difficult circumstances.
"Those who are fully employable and sit at home doing nothing from Monday to Friday should not be allowed to continue like this," Schulze stated. He pointed to the thousands of job vacancies in Saxony-Anhalt and criticized the excuses that citizens' income recipients give for refusing work. Particularly in agriculture, where helpers from Eastern Europe are often employed, the potential of domestic benefit recipients remains untapped.
Jens Spahn (CDU), the leader of the Union parliamentary group, supports Schulze's demands and calls for faster tax funding of health costs for citizens' income recipients. He sees the standard rate as a lever to reduce the financial burden on those with statutory health insurance. Many feel it is unfair that primarily those with statutory insurance have to cover the contributions for citizens' income recipients.
The state election in Saxony-Anhalt is approaching, and Schulze will stand for election in September. According to polls, the CDU is significantly behind the AfD, with 26 percent compared to the AfD's 41 percent. Schulze recently warned of the consequences of a potential takeover by the AfD, particularly the threat of school closures in rural areas.
