The Free Democratic Party (FDP) has criticized Family Minister Lisa Paus from the Green Party for her handling of the child basic income law. The FDP believes that the creation of 5000 new positions at local family offices to implement the child basic income will only increase bureaucracy and is not effective. They have also questioned the necessity of these new positions in the long term. Paus, on the other hand, is confident that the total number of positions can be reduced through synergies and digitization. While the FDP wants a digital portal to address child poverty through access to opportunities rather than financial assistance, the Green Party sees the child basic income as a key social policy project.
The child basic income is meant to consolidate existing benefits such as child benefits, benefits from the citizen’s income for children, and the child supplement. The FDP argues that addressing child poverty requires enhancing participation opportunities rather than financial aid. They propose a children’s chances portal for digital organization of opportunities for children and adolescents. The FDP also suggests focusing on investments in early childhood education and quality improvement in childcare facilities nationwide. They believe that providing childcare options is crucial to empowering families to provide their children with the opportunities they need.
Family Minister Paus insists that the child basic income aims to reduce bureaucratic hurdles for families and make it easier for them to access the support they are entitled to. The government has agreed on the child basic income, which was approved in the cabinet. Paus emphasizes the need to continue parliamentary negotiations in a normal manner. However, the FDP accuses Paus of focusing on publicity around a bill that they believe does not effectively combat child poverty. They urge Paus to prioritize discussions on investment in early childhood education and childcare quality improvement with her counterparts in the 16 states.
The conflict over the child basic income between the FDP and the Green Party has not shown any signs of resolution. The FDP criticizes the creation of 5000 new positions for the implementation of the child basic income, while the Green Party believes in the positive impact of the initiative. Despite the disagreement, Family Minister Paus remains determined to move forward with the child basic income as a solution to reducing child poverty and providing families with the necessary support. The differing perspectives on the approach to addressing child poverty through financial assistance versus access to opportunities highlight the ongoing debate within the coalition government and the challenges of implementing social policies.
