SPD demands withdrawal of Prien's cutback plans for advance maintenance payments

SPD General Secretary Klüssendorf told the Funke Mediengruppe: "Ich erwarte von Karin Prien, dass sie, bei aller Knappheit in den Kassen, den Blick konsequent darauf richtet, wie wir Alleinerziehenden und ihren Kindern das Leben leichter statt schwerer machen können". Cuts must not "nicht am Ende der Debatte stehen". For single parents, Prien's proposal is "ein Offenbarungseid".

Criticism also from the SPD parliamentary group

Sharp criticism also came from the ranks of the SPD parliamentary group. Children's commissioner Truels Reichardt said on Deutschlandfunk that Prien's plan was "mit der SPD nicht abgesprochen gewesen". He added: "Das können wir in der Form so nicht mitmachen." Reichardt also warned: "Wenn man da knapp 400 Euro den alleinerziehenden Familien wegnimmt, dann ist das für viele einfach eine Katastrophe. Das kann man gar nicht anders sagen".

Diakonie calls for more consistent enforcement

The SPD line receives support from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Minister-President Manuela Schwesig, herself a former Federal Family Minister, is advocating for the existing legal situation to be maintained. A prominent SPD state leader is thereby openly positioning herself against the plans of the CDU Family Minister at the federal level.

Criticism also came from outside politics. Diakonie President Rüdiger Schuch told the Rheinische Post: "Leistungseinschränkungen für alleinerziehende Elternteile und deren Kinder sind der falsche Weg. Sie treffen Menschen, die ohnehin schwer belastet sind." He demanded instead: "Beim Unterhaltsvorschuss brauchen wir Maßnahmen, um Zahlungen bei den Unterhaltssäumigen durchzusetzen".

Background: spending quadrupled since 2017

The background to the debate is the financial development of the benefit. Since the reform of advance maintenance payments in 2017, spending has quadrupled according to ministry figures. The payment has thus developed into one of the largest cost factors for the municipalities.

The controversy comes in the heated phase of budget deliberations for 2027. Should the SPD stick to its rejection, the proposal would have to be negotiated in the coalition committee. So far, Prien has not publicly responded to the demands from the SPD.

The dispute illustrates growing tensions in the coalition of CDU and SPD on social policy issues. While the Union is insisting on relief for the municipalities and adherence to austerity requirements, the SPD emphasizes the protection of vulnerable groups such as single parents and their children.