Union and SPD Clash Over Shape of Care Reform

30.09.2026 11:25 HotInfo

Coalition parties Union and SPD in Germany still haven't agreed on the planned reform of the care system. The cabinet was to decide on the proposal on Wednesday, but negotiations continued until the last moment. Time pressure is mounting, as the government wants to push the reform into the next phase despite persisting disputes. Tagesspiegel ↗

The SPD is demanding changes to the proposal, and according to the chairman of its parliamentary group in the Bundestag, Miersch, no understanding with the Union has been reached so far. The Social Democrats warn that the current form of the reform is not acceptable, and the coalition must resolve several open questions before the cabinet's planned decision. Deutschlandfunk ↗

Shortly before this, the Union and SPD had claimed they would be able to reach a compromise. However, the negotiations dragged on, and the coalition partners faced the risk that the proposal would not be ready in the agreed form. The reform is meant to respond to the growing pressure on the system caused by the aging of German society and rising demands for care services. Tagesschau ↗

The German Care Council has labeled the planned changes problematic, especially from the perspective of people dependent on care and workers in this sector. It is demanding a more extensive reworking of the reform. The political parties must therefore take into account not only a mutual compromise but also the objections of expert organizations. Further steps will depend on the outcome of the coalition negotiations and the cabinet's decision. Tagesspiegel ↗

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