Berlin – A major controversy over pensions threatens to spoil the birthday week of Chancellor Friedrich Merz (69, CDU). The fight could take place on Tuesday from 3 p.m. in a parliamentary group meeting – just before the 70th reception of heads of government starting at 5 p.m. in the Reichstag building.
Resistance was also organized by the Federal Association of Young Unity (JU), which hosted German Day at the weekend and was reluctant to give up yet.
In JU’s explosive “Factual Briefing on Pensions 2030+” (available from BILD), it was stated threateningly that the topic would “continue to be discussed – especially in connection with Germany Day”.
What’s more: In an inflammatory newspaper, Junge Union called Bärbel Bas and Lars Klingbeil’s behavior “brazen” – a harsh attack on the SPD leaders.
How do they react to resistance? Chancellor Friedrich Merz (69, CDU, ruling) and SPD Vice-Chancellor Lars Klingbeil (47)
Bas argues that setting pension levels is “very beneficial for the younger generation, because it means their pensions remain stable.” BUT: “To finance this, (…) requires a significant increase in contributions and tax burdens, which ultimately places a greater burden on the younger generation.” It is precisely to avoid such impacts that sustainability factors are introduced into pension funds.
Klingbeil claims that “it’s about not giving pensions to the older generation.” However, according to JU, the current debate is “about securing the long-term financial viability of the pension system”. “So that the younger generation still has the right to a pension in the future.”
People in the Chancellor’s Office may not be happy about the attack. Because now they have switched to the SPD route, which according to him is reasonable if the 48 percent value is indirectly applied to pension levels after 2031.
Mastermind of resistance: JU federal leader Johannes Winkel (34)
The youth group in the Union Fraction (18 members) continues to take a stand. He stressed that this would require an additional 115 billion euros – and that was not in the coalition agreement.
Disputes can occur within groups.
Behind the scenes, parliamentary group deputy and CDU general Carsten Linnemann (48) is now supposed to negotiate a compromise with the Social Democrats on behalf of Merz.
Target time: If possible BEFORE German JU Day…
