The trade union wing of the CDU has strongly rejected internal party proposals aiming to reduce health services for recipients of welfare benefits (“Bürgergeld”). During an interview with the “Handelsblatt”, CDA Chairman Dennis Radtke (CDU) stressed that “anyone who is ill needs help-regardless of whether they are currently employed, raising a child alone, receiving basic state pension, or dependent on support for any other reason”. Radtke stated that this commitment to the working-class heart of the Christian Democratic Union is a non-negotiable principle (a “red line”). He emphasized that cuts to the necessary medical care for those in difficult situations are unacceptable.
The internal pressure for cuts stemmed from the CDU/CSU parliamentary group’s Young Group, which this week called for reductions in social contributions to stabilize the statutory health insurance (GKV). Radtke countered this approach by demanding that the twelve billion euros currently paid for GKV contributions must instead be covered by general tax revenue. For this to happen, he insisted that Finance Minister and SPD leader Lars Klingbeil must propose a plan and establish a binding agreement.
Radtke firmly asserted that any reform cannot begin by targeting the most vulnerable. He added that household budget items such as a single mother caring for an ill child or a pensioner receiving basic sustenance are areas where cuts cannot simply be made.
