The chairpersons of the Greens’ parliamentary group, Katharina Dröge and Britta Haßelmann, are offering the federal government a broad partnership for a comprehensive reform of the welfare state. In a position paper that the “Spiegel” reported, they argue that “now, in times of crises and uncertainty, a wider consensus on major reforms is urgently needed”.
Their proposal, called the “Immediate Future Programme” seeks to overhaul the pension and health systems. Dröge and Haßelmann note that this initiative goes beyond the usual opposition‑parliamentary corridor. While the opposition’s role is to critique government policy, they ask whether the current climate-marked by a pressing need to revamp the welfare state-might allow the different positions to find common ground and develop a joint reform agenda.
The Greens also signal their willingness to support a constitutional amendment. “A fundamental reform of the welfare state requires a change to the Basic Law” they write. “We are ready to discuss this seriously”.
Dröge and Haßelmann point to several areas where action is required. They claim the German health system is inefficient and costly, with high social‑insurance contributions that do not necessarily translate into better patient care. They cite shortages of qualified professionals as a major challenge for both the social system and the economy. In addition, they emphasize that the cost of care facilities is so high that people on ordinary incomes can barely afford them.