The Union does not expect a quick solution to the dispute over citizen income and, if in doubt, wants to schedule a separate vote on increasing the Hartz IV rates in the Bundestag.
“A quick agreement by November 25 would be desirable, but is unlikely,” said parliamentary group leader Thorsten Frei (CDU) of “Bild am Sonntag”. The CDU wanted all sanctions “to be used from day one”.
Under no circumstances would the Union allow itself to be put under time pressure during the negotiations. Frei announced: “If there is no agreement, we will put the motion to increase the standard rates on January 1 to a vote in the next week of the meeting.”
Party Vice Carsten Linnemann also emphasized to “Bild am Sonntag”: “As long as the citizen’s income does not breathe the spirit of support and demands again, I cannot imagine approval.”
