Overview

• A Thursday ZDF debate built on Duisburg mayor Sören Link’s recent outcry about mass fraud to examine Bürgergeld, alleged misuse and fiscal strain with Paul Ziemiak, Philipp Türmer, Verena Bentele, Boris Palmer and Eva Quadbeck.
• Ziemiak claimed misuse is driven by migrants from Romania and Bulgaria, specifically Sinti and Roma, and argued that people who have not worked should not receive benefits.
• He called for tougher checks and raids and cited government plans for an EU guideline to precisely define mini‑jobs, while also contending that Bürgergeld is too high and contributes to AfD gains.
• Türmer rejected the ethnic framing as populist, saying many beneficiaries are victims coerced by criminal intermediaries, while supporting action against organized fraud.
• Bentele and Palmer linked the debate to municipal funding gaps and proposed revenue‑side options such as wealth and capital‑income tax changes and bureaucracy reduction to help close shortfalls.