Sebastian Lechner, the CDU Party and Parliamentary Group Chief for Lower Saxony, is strongly demanding that the federal and state governments reach an agreement on reductions to certain social benefits. He stated to the “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland” that although they must implement courageous reforms to reduce costs for states and municipalities, the spending in areas such as youth welfare, long-term care assistance, and integration support for people with disabilities has “exploded.”
Looking ahead to planned cuts targeting educational assistants for children and young people with disabilities, Lechner noted that any savings will be painful, a reality that is “personally not easy” for him. However, he stressed the need for an open discussion about actual needs, questioning whether a classroom of five children truly requires five assistants, suggesting that three might suffice. He warned that reducing costs for local governments is unavoidable. Failing to do so, he insisted, will make it impossible to manage the financial situation of cities and communities.
While the recent agreement between federal and state levels-which involves redistributing cost burdens through new federal laws-was described as a “good start,” Lechner emphasized that further measures must be taken.
