Germany’s ruling coalition is in a heavyweight bout over welfare reform. CDU chief Merz warns the system isn’t affordable anymore and hints at painful cuts, a line he doubled down at a Bonn CDU congress. SPD’s Bärbel Bas pushes back: Germany is wealthy, don’t scrap social security; instead boost growth and reform welfare to be faster, more capable, and to get people into work. The sparring shows splits inside the coalition and with the CSU, whose Markus Söder wants a tougher course—replacing Bürgergeld with stricter basic security and big cuts. Bas says benefits shouldn’t be trimmed and reforms should drive economic dynamism, possibly with contributions from specific professional groups. She rejects a defensive posture and says broad, creative changes could strengthen the system for future generations. All this ahead of NRW’s 14 September local elections, a mood test for the government.