Social Security: Coalition Clash over Care – and What the SPD Proposals Would Cost
The SPD is blocking the nursing care reform. It wants to cap costs and include private insured individuals - which could become expensive, say economists. And it is annoying the coalition partner.
The German federal cabinet was set to decide on a nursing care reform proposed by Health Minister Carsten Linnemann on Wednesday, but this is now uncertain due to opposition from the SPD. The SPD parliamentary group leader, Matthias Miersch, stated that they will not support a "pure austerity package". The SPD's criticism comes despite the reform plans having been agreed upon months ago, with Union government circles expressing frustration that the SPD's sudden opposition seems "orchestrated".
The SPD claims that the proposals were discussed in over 50 meetings of the federal-state working group. The coalition faces a challenge as the nursing care insurance is expected to have a deficit of 8 billion euros next year.
Written by urgent.news from Handelsblatt's report — not a translation of it. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
