Dirk Wiese, the parliamentary manager of the SPD parliamentary group, defended his party’s proposal to fundamentally overhaul the financing of social benefits.
“We aren’t talking about one‑sided cuts-remember the debate we had over dental treatments-rather, we need structural reforms” Wiese told the “RBB24 Inforadio” on Monday. He also acknowledged the question of how to improve the revenue base.
The SPD executive council approved the inclusion of rental income and capital gains in the funding of health and care services over the weekend. The aim is to lower the contributions paid by insured persons.
The CDU, meanwhile, calls for a reduction in overall social spending. To create employment incentives and revive the economy, CDU general secretary Carsten Linnemann told ARD on Sunday that wage-related social security costs must be cut.
Wiese said the SPD will discuss the proposals with its coalition partner, the CDU. “We have clear agreements with the coalition partner regarding the reform of the social security systems”. Minister of Health Nina Warken (CDU) is expected to present related proposals in March, focusing on structural reforms in the health sector. She will also address how to sustainably restore the finances of statutory health insurance to reasonable footing.