The designated FDP leader, Wolfgang Kubicki, is calling for significant cuts to social basic security and a drastic reduction in state subsidies. Speaking to the “Rheinische Post”, Kubicki stated that “budgetary consolidation is not a question of revenue, but of expenditure”. He argued that the majority of the over 100 billion euros in direct state subsidies-more than 60 billion of which are at the federal level-are completely superfluous or even counterproductive. Regarding basic welfare, he cited the Danish model as preferable, suggesting that individuals who refuse acceptable employment should have their benefits cut for every missed day of reasonable work. He stressed that the principle of both supporting and demanding initiative must be reinstated. Kubicki also sharply criticized the current application of stricter sanctions under the Citizen’s Income program, noting that they are barely being used. He pointed out that even if a recipient does not report or can be found for an entire year, payments still continue to be issued.
Politics
