Chairman of the Junge Union, Johannes Winkel, explained in his speech: “This retirement package should not happen like this! The arguments are clear. The facts are clear. The judgment is clear.” In his remarks, Winkel again mentioned additional costs of 120 billion euros.
The CDU won the last federal election, said Winkel, a 34-year-old Bundestag member. “The SPD does not determine the political guidelines. We provide the Chancellor!” SPD Finance Minister and Vice-Chancellor Lars Klingbeil’s “presumptive word of pension power” is “or not,” he said.
“There’s no point pouring money into a broken system. We need real reform in Germany.” Junge Union will support the decisions in the coalition agreement: “Nothing more, but also nothing less,” Winkel said. The debate about pensions will not be won by those who shout the loudest. “This debate must be won by those who have the best arguments on this issue.”
Speaking to SPD Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Bärbel Bas, Winkel said: “This is the right time to change course, dear Bärbel Bas!” There will be no cuts to pension funds, Winkel continued: “Thank God.”
Winkel praised the Chancellor’s work on foreign policy: Merz achieved more in six months than former Chancellor Olaf Scholz achieved in three and a half years. Merz unites Europe on Ukraine policy. “You can be proud of that in Germany,” Winkel said.
Nevertheless, he reminded the Chancellor, who is expected to appear on Germany Day tomorrow, of the Junge Union’s years of support: “Without the JU, the CDU would not have won the 2025 federal election! Without the Junge Union, Friedrich Merz would not have become party chairman and certainly not chancellor.” Junge’s union “froze and burned” Merz in the election campaign, Winkel said.
Finally, he emphasized: “Friedrich Merz can always rely on Junge Union. And in this matter, Junge Union now relies on Friedrich Merz.”
