The social wing of the CDU has criticized the coalition’s decisions regarding sick leave and housing benefits. According to Dennis Radtke, the federal chairman of the Christian Democratic workers’ association (CDA), it is good that the coalition is demonstrating its capacity to act through its reform package and addressing many necessary issues. However, he found it “frustrating” that the valuable components of the package are being “buried under the wreckage of debates about sick leave.”
Radtke argues that the fundamental problem with absences in Germany is not primarily related to “freeloaders” but rather to those suffering from long-term illnesses. He observes that the current discussion is being conducted “purely emotionally” because the perception has been created that many employees simply lack the desire to work.
The CDA chairman also criticized the handling of the mother’s pension and housing benefit. He stated, “As a social politician, it hurts me that we want to spend five billion euros on the mother’s pension, which will not benefit those who truly need it, and at the same time, we want to cut the budget for the housing benefit amidst rising rents.” He maintained that if cuts are necessary, there must be “focus areas instead of just ‘wishing you well.'” For him, the guiding principle should be determined by where the need is greatest-not “who negotiated the hardest.”
The increase in the mother’s pension was largely decided due to pressure from the CSU. Radtke is also a member of the CDU federal executive board and a Member of the European Parliament.
