Vice-Chancellor Klingbeil (SPD) acts as if the Bundestag must obediently agree to what the cabinet decides regarding pensions. Economist Grimm felt compelled to provide general guidance on parliamentarism.
Economist Veronika Grimm gave Federal Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD) a lesson on parliamentary democracy in six words. “Doesn’t Parliament decide on laws?” asked the economics professor on the “X” platform.
The economist gave Klingbeil a lesson in parliamentary democracy
What sounds like a harmless question is actually a harsh slap in the face. Grimm’s statement referred to the SPD chairman’s statement regarding the pension dispute: “Nothing will be changed in the law,” he announced.
At least 18 members of the “Youth Group” have announced that they will vote no in the Bundestag. With Black-Red only gaining a slim majority of 12 votes, 18 no votes would mean the end of the pension package – and possibly the end of this coalition.
Ms. Grimm clearly knew what Klingbeil probably overlooked in her statement: “Struck’s Law.” It reads: No legislation leaves the Bundestag as introduced.
Struck’s law and representative power
Peter Struck († 2012) is chairman of the SPD parliamentary group in the first GroKo under Angela Merkel (CDU). It is important for him not to simply accept what the GroKo cabinet has decided. Together with Volker Kauder, chairman of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, he often agrees on changes to the government’s proposals.
It can be assumed that Klingbeil had heard it. After all, he was the Secretary General of the SPD at that time. Even though he is not a member of the cabinet, as a member of parliament he objects if parliamentary rights are handed over to the government.
As the person in charge of an empty state coffers, Klingbeil should expect the pension package to fail. The proposal from Labor Minister Bärbel Bas (SPD) estimates additional spending of almost 120 billion euros between 2032 and 2040.
The reason: Bas and the SPD want to set the pension rate at 48 percent of average earnings in 2040. According to the coalition agreement, the 48 percent figure will only apply until 2031. This limit will then drop to 47 percent.
Merz in criticism: The icy silence of Germany Day
In Berlin there was speculation why Merz and the Union ministers agreed to this in the cabinet. Didn’t they notice? Or does Merz want to avoid falling out with the SPD?
At the German Day at the Junge Union, the Chancellor defended his agreement with a twisted argument: the implementation of the pension package does not mean the end of the pension discussion, but rather its continuation.
The CDU youth cannot and will not agree to this. They let their former idol, Merz, feel the same way too. His comments about retirement were met with icy silence.
The battle over pensions: two scenarios for coalitions
A major row over pensions is now imminent in the CDU. Merz and parliamentary group leader Jens Spahn will try to give reason to the retired rebels.
If this doesn’t work, there are two options: the law will be rejected in parliament and the coalition will be shaken to its core. Or the pension package will be parsed and repackaged together by the CDU/CSU and SPD in the Bundestag.
It is very likely that Struck’s law will be implemented again. And Vice Chancellor Klingbeil knows that in a parliamentary democracy, it is not the powerful words of ministers that determine, but the people’s representatives who make the decisions.
