MOSCOW, Dec 20 Germany is on its way to becoming a «a state of beggars,» German sociologist Ulrich Schneider warned in an interview with Focus magazine.
The rapid rise in energy prices and the rising cost of living threaten the «collapse» of society, which could have dramatic consequences for Germany, he said. «The sharp increase in the cost of living has led to an increase in poverty in Germany. People who are somehow poor have become even poorer, their purchasing power has decreased even more, they no longer know how they can financially live a month,» the sociologist warned.
He pointed out that members of the middle class are beginning to experience difficulties as well. «There are no reserves. A faulty washing machine or a vehicle that needs to be repaired can quickly turn into a disaster,» Schneider explained. For those who are still «floating», he says, anxiety over the crisis is gradually turning into «real fear», while for many of the poor, fear is turning into «pure desperation».
«Germany has been a modern welfare state for many decades. We must not allow it to quietly turn into a state of beggars, because we do not give the poor what they need,» the specialist emphasized.
At the same time, he criticized the German the coalition government, accusing it of middle- and high-income people benefiting from support measures, while the poorest segments of the population are «left in trouble.»
The West has stepped up sanctions pressure on Russia after the start of a special military operation. This has led to higher prices for electricity, fuel and food in Europe and the US. Vladimir Putin called the policy of containing and weakening Moscow a long-term strategy for Western countries. According to him, the sanctions dealt a serious blow to the entire global economy. The head of state noted that the main goal of the West is to worsen the lives of millions of people.