Bremen Jobcenter employee Fred Göcken sues after dismissal over ZDF criticism

Fred Göcken, a 60‑year‑old employee with more than 20 years at the Bremen Jobcenter, appeared in a ZDF documentary criticizing the Bürgergeld system. He claimed that 30‑40 % of recipients give false information, describing it as an “open secret”. The city of Bremen terminated his contract on 28 May, citing diffamation and an unauthorised interview. Göcken says the firing breaches his freedom of expression and has announced legal action. Bremen’s labor and social affairs senator, Claudia Schilling (SPD), rejected Göcken’s statistical claims, stating they lack evidence and harm public trust. The Jobcenter acknowledged isolated cases of fraud but said there is no reliable data to support the quoted percentage.