Predecessor SPD-Chief - First a Sabbatical and then a 4-day week": Sigmar Gabriel criticizes lazy youth
In times of tighter public finances and empty government coffers, the debate over transfer payments is heating up again. The trigger is a recent article in "Der Spiegel" that labels Citizen's Income as a "dead-end."
In the text, the former head of the Federal Employment Agency, Frank-Jürgen Weise, speaks out. He sees the problem as a lack of work ethic among the younger generation. "There are 260,000 young people in Germany between 25 and 45 who have not worked for a longer period, although they meet all the criteria for employment," quotes the news magazine. That's "unacceptable" in this dimension, says Weise. Citizen's Income is, according to the tenor of the article, facing acceptance issues.
Sigmar Gabriel weighs in on X
The hope that this could lead to a substantive debate was short-lived. On Saturday evening, Sigmar Gabriel weighed in on X. The former SPD chairman and Economics and Foreign Minister wrote: "Hundreds of thousands are young, healthy, and collecting Citizen's Income," grumbles the former head of the Employment Agency. I felt he was right. And whoever is well-off can take a 'sabbatical' after school and then work a 4-day week."
In a second tweet, he clarified his statement directly afterwards: "Top and bottom: fewer and fewer people want to contribute. It's harder to make demands on the top." With his statement, he made it clear – typical Social Democrat – that he did not mean to target people at the bottom of society.
Gabriel's sweeping statements received criticism: "Gabriel's statement reveals skewed thinking," said FDP social expert Pascal Kober "Bild.de." If someone works, pays taxes, and then finances a 'sabbatical' for their children with the remaining money, that's "entirely their own business." Even the CDU criticized: "Our youth is not lazy – we just don't ask much of them anymore," said CDU labor market expert Kai Whittaker "Bild.de."
Heated Opposition
Gabriel's statements on X remained uncommented: "Unlike Citizen's Income, then Mama and Papa pay, not the taxpayer," writes a user. In the same direction goes the criticism of another user: "Living at the expense of Mama and Papa is perfectly fine. Living at the expense of the welfare state is not."
Despite the heated debate in the social media about Gabriel's statements, the Citizen's Income discussion has had no noticeable impact on them so far, according to the "Spiegel" report. The discussion is much more complex than the generational slur of the former SPD chairman suggests.
Sources: x.com/sigmargabriel, "Spiegel", "Bild.de"
- In response to the controversy surrounding Citizen's Income, the former head of the Federal Employment Agency, Frank-Jürgen Weise, expressed his concern about young individuals, specifically 260,000 between the ages of 25 and 45, who have been unemployed for an extended period despite meeting employment criteria.
- Sigmar Gabriel, a former SPD chairman and Economics and Foreign Minister, supported Weise's viewpoint, criticizing the fact that many young individuals are collecting Citizen's Income and can take advantage of a 'sabbatical' after completing their education.
- Gabriel's statements faced criticism, with the FDP social expert Pascal Kober arguing that as long as individuals work, pay taxes, and use their income to fund their children's 'sabbaticals', it is their own choice. The CDU also expressed their disagreement, stating that they do not view the youth as lazy but believe that there is a lack of expectations set for them.
- During this heated debate, the Citizen's Income discussion has had minimal effect, with the "Spiegel" report suggesting that the issue is more intricate and not solely a generational issue as Gabriel suggested.
