Germany announces new family minister after vacation scandal

Berlin, Apr 14: Following the departure of Germany's former Family Minister Anne Spiegel, the Green party announced on Thursday that lawmaker Lisa Paus will take her position.

Spiegel stepped down on Monday after coming under fire for a four-week vacation she took to France shortly after floods devastated part of Rhineland-Palatinate last year. She was the region's deputy state premier at the time.

She had since been elected to the Bundestag and given the role of minister for family, senior citizens, women and youth. As a member of the Greens, it was up to her party to nominate a replacement.

Paus, 53, has a background in financial and economic policy and comes from the left wing of the party. She has sat in the Bundestag national parliament since 2009.

Who is Lisa Paus?

The Green lawmaker and now cabinet minister has been seen as one of the driving forces behind the coalition government's plan to introduce a basic child allowance.

The concept is being spearheaded by the Greens within the coalition that includes the center-left Social Democrats (SPD) — the party of Chancellor Olaf Scholz — as well as the business-friendly Free Democrats (FDP).

According to Germany's Ifo Institute, the basic child allowance could reduce the risk of child poverty by making it easier for parents to claim benefits.

Source: DW