Overview
- The Bavarian cabinet reversed course at its retreat, abolishing Familiengeld and Krippengeld for 2025 births and cancelling the €3,000 Kinderstartgeld planned from 2026 in order to shore up Kitas.
- The Social Ministry projects roughly €3 billion will be freed for operating costs between 2026 and 2030.
- A scheduled Landtag debate on the Kinderstartgeld has been overtaken by the decision, effectively halting the bill before its second reading.
- Municipal leaders, including the Bavarian Association of Towns, welcomed the move as relief for underfunded providers, while AWO leaders condemned the reallocation as harmful to families.
- Public backlash has grown quickly, with Change.org reporting more than 200,000 combined signatures on petitions opposing the end of the payments.