Before the mediation process for the planned citizens' allowance, traffic light politicians called for a quick solution. Green parliamentary group leader Britta Haßelmann told the Funke media group: "In the mediation committee, everyone is now required to overcome blockages in citizen money and to explore compromises." This willingness is needed from all sides.

SPD chairwoman Saskia Esken sharply criticized the Union, but was basically optimistic. She accused the Union of spreading "fake news" about citizen income. She also told the Funke media group: I am nevertheless confident that we will reach a good compromise in the mediation committee and that the citizen's allowance will come into force on January 1 as planned."

FDP politician urges objectivity

The first parliamentary director of the FDP in the Bundestag, Johannes Vogel, called on both his traffic light partners and the Union to be objective. In the last few weeks, the sides have rocked each other, he told the editorial network Germany (RND). "The coalition and opposition should now put the emotional issues aside and come to a constructive mode in order to bring the citizen benefit debate into a new compromise phase," said Vogel. "Together we should want to do what is best for our country."

The citizens' allowance planned by the traffic light was not able to prevail in the decisive vote in the Bundesrat on Monday. At a special session, several countries led or involved by the Union voted against or abstained. Now the mediation committee should find a solution - otherwise the citizen's income, with which the traffic light wants to overcome the Hartz IV system, threatens to fail completely.

According to Federal Labor Minister Hubertus Heil, the mediation committee of the Bundestag and Bundesrat is to meet on the subject next Wednesday.