One of Germany’s largest welfare organizations, Diakonie Deutschland, has voiced cautious support for Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s announced intention to ensure the future viability of the nation’s social security systems. While broadly agreeing with the goal, Diakonie President Rüdiger Schuch cautioned against creating a climate of fear surrounding the necessary reforms.
“The Chancellor ultimately needs not only a political majority for his reforms, but also societal support” Schuch stated in an interview with the Süddeutsche Zeitung. He emphasized that lasting change requires public buy-in, warning that instilling fear would be counterproductive. “Mr. Merz shouldn’t frighten people” he added, while expressing reservations about the proposed approach.
Schuch also criticized the government’s decision not to include representatives from welfare organizations in the various commissions tasked with reforming the social security systems. “We are the ones providing social work on the ground every day and can therefore offer practical insights into what works and what doesn’t” he explained. He suggested that the current strategy appears paternalistic, with reforms being imposed from above.
Diakonie, alongside organizations such as Caritas and the Red Cross, collectively operates around 105,000 social facilities across Germany, including hospitals, kindergartens and care homes. With nearly 630,000 employees and an annual turnover exceeding 200 billion euros, these organizations contribute over five percent to Germany’s overall economic output.
Schuch advocated for streamlining the complex landscape of overlapping social programs and consolidating benefits. He described the existing bureaucratic system as excessively costly and confusing, leading to situations where eligible individuals fail to access the support they are entitled to.
He stressed the fundamental importance of social security alongside public safety. “The state cannot forget social security alongside external and internal security” Schuch stated. “If people do not have confidence that they will be helped in times of need, all reforms are meaningless.
The Chancellor recently asserted that the current social security system is financially unsustainable, necessitating reform.
