- SPD politician criticizes CDU's attitude to the payment card
SPD's interior policy expert Martin Matz has sharply criticized the stance of coalition partner CDU on the cash card for asylum seekers. "By limiting the cash function, the CDU is only giving the appearance of solving any problems. It's political make-believe," Matz told the German Press Agency.
"We're giving the impression that we're now solving a problem with great determination. But later, it will turn out that it doesn't change anything at all." Matz also criticized the behavior of the ruling Mayor of Berlin, who agreed to the resolution of the conference of ministers to limit cash payments to 50 euros in November.
"I still believe that Wegner tried to trick us because in the Senate, we agreed to clarify it later when the provider and the technical details are known," said Matz.
"Wegner rushed ahead without a mandate"
"He then rushed to the MPK without a mandate from the coalition and supported the 50 euros. And he didn't have to do that. I believe he thought, 'If I sign this, I can say later: 'I'm stuck with it now, I'm really sorry,'" said the interior spokesman of the SPD faction.
"This whole public debate is based on the fiction that people are coming here because of social benefits, and especially cash benefits, either to support their relatives in their home countries or to pay their smugglers," said Matz.
Matz considers criticism of the cash card to be misguided
"It's not clear to what extent such payments actually take place. In any case, I am quite sure that the steering effect that one hopes for from it simply does not exist," the SPD MP emphasized.
"After all, no one in Africa is sitting there reading in their WhatsApp group: 'Oh, they're introducing a cash card in Germany now. I was just about to set off, but if there's a cash card, I'll stay here.'"
On the current discussion between CDU and SPD on the cash card, Matz said: "According to the classic methods of finding a compromise, one could only say that one agrees on a higher limit, so that no one gets exactly what they wanted before. I had expected that to happen. But the CDU wants to stick to the 50 euros."
The SPD is not against a cash card as such, but against one with a very limited cash function. "There is a party congress resolution on this. The delegates demanded a non-discriminatory cash card, one that allows you to go to an ATM and withdraw money, but has no credit function," said the SPD politician. "That's the party's position. But it was clear from the start that it wouldn't be feasible, at least not in a coalition with the CDU."
"Despite the SPD's opposition, the cash card for asylum seekers is still a contentious issue, with Matz arguing that limiting its cash function is merely a political illusion."
"However, the situation of asylum seekers remains a concern for Matz, who believes that the common perception of asylum seekers being drawn to Germany by social benefits is a misconception."
