The German Federal Labour Minister, Bärbel Bas of the SPD, has strongly rebuked the leader of the CSU, Markus Söder, following his recent proposal to withhold welfare benefits from Ukrainian refugees.
Speaking to broadcaster “Welt” Minister Bas acknowledged that Söder’s suggestion had already met with internal opposition within the conservative Union bloc. She emphasized the importance of focusing on the existing coalition agreement, stating that it’s the best course of action to avoid escalating tensions.
The current coalition agreement stipulates that welfare benefits should be temporarily suspended specifically for newly arriving Ukrainian individuals. Minister Bas asserted that extending restrictions beyond this defined group would be inappropriate at this time, primarily due to the potential financial burden placed on local municipalities. She reiterated that commitments made within the coalition agreement prohibit shifting further financial obligations onto these local authorities.
Bas cautioned against creating unnecessary new points of contention. “Such developments are not necessary” she stated. “We have committed to working together on these issues and any further proposals are unproductive”.
