The left wants to sue New Basic Security. “We are now considering a constitutional complaint about this,” party leader Ines Schwerdtner said on Wednesday on the RTL and NTV program “Frühstart.” In 2019, the Federal Constitutional Court already ruled that “the complete imposition of sanctions on people actually violates our constitution.” Schwerdtner criticized that the reform of citizens’ benefits and therefore the introduction of basic security makes the situation worse, especially for single parents and other particularly vulnerable groups.
The party leader stressed that the left also wants people to get to work faster. Instead of tougher sanctions, better-equipped job centers, more language courses and better child care are needed to enable victims to return to work. Schwerdtner also criticized the general discussion about recipients of citizens’ benefits.
They always talk about a small group of so-called complete refuseniks. In fact, this is only about 0.3 percent of welfare recipients, the left-wing politician emphasized. Many of those affected are mentally ill or single parents and need support rather than harsher sanctions.
“These are the real social parasites in this country.”
At the same time, Schwerdtner directed her criticism at the rich: “We have 800,000 people in Germany who can live solely off their private assets, from rental income. They don’t have to pay a wealth tax,” she said. “These are the real social parasites in this country.”
The new basic security replaces citizens’ money and comes into force on Wednesday. Thus, some 5.5 million benefit recipients will face stricter cooperation obligations and harsher penalties. Thanks to the reform, the black-red coalition is implementing one of its main projects.