German High Court Outlines Profound Welfare Rights
Germany's Federal Constitutional Court has rejected cuts to the welfare state, ruling that all citizens, even the poor, have a right to a "minimum level of participation in social, cultural, and political life." That's a much higher standard than providing for food and other basic needs.
Germany’s Federal Constitutional Court has rejected cuts to the welfare state, ruling that all citizens, even the poor, have a right to a “minimum level of participation in social, cultural, and political life.” That’s a much higher standard than providing for food and other basic needs.
Your support matters…Christian Science Monitor:
Last month, the federal constitutional court said that a sweeping reform established five years ago to reduce what was then seen as an overburdened welfare system was unconstitutional. The reason: It failed to ensure its 6.7 million recipients, especially children, “a dignified minimum income” and give less privileged citizens a “minimum level of participation in social, cultural, and political life.”
The court gave Chancellor Angela Merkel’s coalition until year’s end to create a better model. And it unleashed heated debate over the future of Germany’s social model at a time when, from France to Greece, social unrest in Europe is widespread.
“The court said that it’s not enough to have food, clothes, and a roof – people also have to be able to participate in society, otherwise they become outcasts,” says Christoph Butterwegge, a poverty expert at the University of Cologne. “For the constitutional court to define social participation as a right, that’s unprecedented.”
Independent journalism is under threat and overshadowed by heavily funded mainstream media.
You can help level the playing field. Become a member.
Your tax-deductible contribution keeps us digging beneath the headlines to give you thought-provoking, investigative reporting and analysis that unearths what's really happening- without compromise.
Give today to support our courageous, independent journalists.
Disgraced movie mogul faces new charges of assaulting two women during Oscar week in 2013 as jury selection is set to begin in Manhattan.
The American, British and Swedish judicial systems have been manipulated and corrupted to ensure the publisher is extradited to the U.S.
Court statements veered from the scientist's original conclusions in at least three cases.
Current and former employees of the fast-food chain have joined a class-action lawsuit claiming they had to work extra hours without pay.
On Wednesday, Richard Glossip will face execution by the state of Oklahoma despite mounting evidence pointing to his innocence.
You need to be a supporter to comment.
There are currently no responses to this article.
Be the first to respond.