The proposal by Bavarian Minister-President Markus Söder to cease payments of citizen’s income to Ukrainian refugees has been described as “thought-provoking” by Steffen Bilger, parliamentary manager of the Union faction.
Bilger highlighted Söder’s focus on the comparatively low rate of Ukrainian refugees in employment within Germany, a point he noted had previously been raised within the governing coalition agreement. He stated that a broader discussion is already underway regarding the future of citizen’s income, with aims to reshape it into a new form of basic security, potentially involving cost savings.
Bilger expressed concern about attempts to stifle this ongoing debate through broad, generalized accusations. He referenced prior discussions a year ago regarding Ukrainian refugee eligibility for citizen’s income, recalling similar sentiments expressed by SPD state premiers.
Responding to criticism from Green Party parliamentary group deputy Audretsch, who warned that withdrawing citizen’s income could negatively impact Ukrainian refugees’ prospects for employment, Bilger acknowledged that the current system’s effectiveness in integrating refugees into the workforce is insufficient. He emphasized that the proportion of Ukrainian refugees in employment remains notably lower than in many other European countries, indicating a need for improvement in the integration process.
