A senior figure within the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) is calling for Chancellor Friedrich Merz to assert his authority and push through social reforms, even if it means overriding the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and Federal Minister for Social Affairs, Bärbel Bas.
Johannes Winkel, a CDU Member of Parliament and Chairman of the Junge Union (Young Union), stated in an interview with “Bild” that the Chancellor should utilize his directive power if necessary. He emphasized that Merz has demonstrated leadership capabilities in foreign policy and that similar decisive action is now required domestically.
Winkel criticized what he described as Bas’s obstructive behaviour, suggesting that the Chancellor should not engage in a conciliatory approach. He advocated for a reduction in what he termed the “bloated” social state, arguing that this is unavoidable.
His argument centers on promoting social justice, claiming that the current system disincentivizes work. Winkel pointed out the disparity between the income of families receiving basic income support (Bürgergeld) and those in employment, suggesting this is a factor in the decline of support for the SPD amongst working-class voters.
The proposed reforms must adhere to the strict guidelines set by the Federal Constitutional Court. In 2019, the court ruled that the human dignity underpinning the right to basic income support applies to all and cannot be forfeited, even through so-called “undignified” conduct. While sanctions are permissible in principle, the court deemed reductions in benefits exceeding 30 percent of the standard needs level to be unconstitutional.