The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) has expressed strong support for a call by Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier advocating for a fundamental reform of the social welfare system. CDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann, in remarks to the “Tagesspiegel” newspaper, affirmed the President’s assessment, stating the need to ensure the long-term viability of the social state, eliminate unintended consequences and combat abuse.
Linnemann emphasized the importance of embracing the courage to implement potentially challenging decisions. He highlighted a perceived public recognition of the need for reform, describing a window of opportunity for change not seen in two decades and asserting the CDU’s readiness to contribute to solutions.
President Steinmeier recently urged the ruling coalition government to undertake social reforms, emphasizing the urgent need to enhance the efficiency and citizen-friendliness of the social welfare system. His remarks, delivered at the 83rd German Welfare Day in Erfurt, advocated for the correction of systemic errors, improved targeting of social benefits and proactive measures to prevent fraud and misuse.
Steinmeier’s address also underscored the necessity of improved communication and collaboration among social service agencies, as well as the overdue digitization of administrative processes. The President’s call for action signals a renewed focus on modernizing and optimizing the social welfare system for the future.