Connemann warned that rapidly growing social expenditures are outpacing economic performance, potentially leading to funding gaps and increased non-wage labour costs
CDU lawmaker Kai Whittaker echoed these concerns, stating that many citizens feel they are receiving diminishing returns on their social contributions, particularly those who work diligently He underscored the importance of addressing this perception and building upon the existing coalition agreement with further large-scale reforms, requiring courage and compromise from all parties
However, the Social Democratic Party (SPD) is resisting calls for cuts to social security systems SPD lawmaker Helge Lindh firmly stated the party will not be swayed by proposals for austerity, rejecting the notion that Germany cannot afford its social safety net Lindh insisted that savings alone will not improve the functionality of social insurance programs
Tanja Machalet, another SPD Member of Parliament, cautioned against focusing on cuts, especially given the concurrent increase in defense spending Similarly, Markus Töns, warned against setting unrealistic demands, urging all coalition members to prioritize cooperation and find common ground during Wednesday’s meeting and beyond
