Georg Cremer criticizes German justice debate

Georg Cremer, the former Secretary General of the German Caritas Association, has criticized the current nature of the justice debate in Germany. He argues that a consumerist understanding of politics has taken hold, where citizens expect the state to fulfill individual desires rather than acting as responsible participants in a democratic state.

Cremer noted that the difficulty in setting political priorities is exacerbated by limited financial resources due to military threats and deficient infrastructure. He pointed out that many measures are labeled as indispensable under the guise of justice, such as the 'Mütterrente' (mothers' pension). He questioned the opportunity cost of such policies, asking what more effective programs could be funded with the five billion euros required annually for such measures.

Cremer, a former member of the Pension Commission and author of a book on the German social state, was recently appointed co-chair of a new commission for structural reforms in long-term care insurance.