“The project will definitely be something,” says Family Minister Lisa Paus, and it fits the overall situation that she has to emphasize it so explicitly. Accompanied by sociologist Bettina Kohlrausch and economist Marcel Fratzscher, the Green Minister spoke to the press on Tuesday about basic child security. Her message: “From a scientific perspective, we are on the right track.”
It wasn’t long ago that there was great rumbling within the coalition about basic child security. The FDP thinks the minister’s EUR 12 billion plans are too expensive, and Paus and his cabinet colleague Christian Lindner clashed with the public. It’s been strangely quiet lately.
But this can be no more than a respite. Because the content of the conflict is far from over.
Paus gives evasive answers to questions about numbers
Kohlrausch and Fratzscher were now ready to second the minister. “I as a scientist…”. “From a scientific perspective…”: This is how many of your sentences began at the press conference in the ministry. As if they wanted to show that the minister has the truth on her side.
But does she? To this day, the minister has not given the public a concrete calculation of exactly what she needs 12 billion euros from the federal budget for. Which part of the concept costs how much? How high should the standard rates be? You don’t know that exactly. Paus answers questions evasively, again at the press conference on Tuesday.
Only their basic message is clear: basic child security is absolutely necessary, given the millions of children in Germany who are at risk of poverty. Fratzscher, President of the German Institute for Economic Research, said he sees basic child security as one of the most important future investments for Germany. In the long term, the social systems would be relieved. In addition, low-income families are currently two to three times more affected by high inflation than high-income families.
Sociologist Kohlrausch, Scientific Director of the Economic and Social Science Institute of the trade union-affiliated Hans Böckler Foundation, pointed out that there was a double imbalance in the system. On the one hand, because poor families often do not take advantage of the benefits to which they are entitled. On the other hand, because wealthier families are supported with more money through the child allowance than poorer families are paid through the child benefit.
The basic child security scheme is intended to remedy all of this. Paus not only wants to summarize the previous services and make them more accessible, but also increase the standard rates. The coalition agrees on the first point, but not on the second.
“I assume that a coherent concept including a reliable basis for calculation will then be presented.
Matthias Seestern-Pauly, family policy spokesman for the FDP parliamentary group
The coalition partner FDP gave the minister a tip in a press release on Tuesday. The family policy spokesman for the FDP parliamentary group, Matthias Seestern-Pauly, said he welcomed the fact that Paus wanted to present a law after the summer break. “I assume that a coherent concept including a reliable basis for calculation will then be presented.”
A request from the opposition was only sparsely answered
Paus repeatedly emphasizes that she has presented a coherent concept. A key issues paper from her ministry has been circulating for a few weeks. But even there you cannot read how exactly the 12 billion euros are derived.
The CDU member of the Bundestag Johannes Steiniger had tried to find out in March by parliamentary question. Even then, the information was not particularly enlightening. “The content of the regulation of basic child security is still being coordinated within the federal government. I therefore ask for your understanding that no information can be given on this,” said Parliamentary State Secretary Ekin Deligöz (Greens).
Dealing with Parliament is more than questionable.
Heidi Reichinnek, spokeswoman for the left-wing faction for child and youth policy
And then there is the resentment of the opposition. Heidi Reichinnek, spokeswoman for the left-wing faction for child and youth policy, was now annoyed via Twitter. The Ministry systematically refuses to provide information about basic child security. Written questions about the calculation of the costs would be answered without content, requests for the Freedom of Information Act would be rejected.
She therefore wanted to watch the press conference on site. “But I can’t either. Dealing with Parliament is more than questionable,” wrote Reichinnek. The ministry left a request unanswered on Tuesday. Reichinnek’s conclusion: “There is little that is concrete about basic child security, a lot of pathos, a schedule that shakes properly, and apparently a lot of fear of criticism from the left.”
Only Minister Paus is optimistic. She hopes that the coalition will be able to agree on key points before the summer break, she said on Tuesday. After the summer break there will be a bill that she is “optimistic”. It is an optimism that will probably not go unnoticed by cabinet colleague Lindner.
