In the pension dispute, the Young Group opposed the Union. Chairman Pascal Reddig warned against a vote without a majority and suggested the legislation be postponed until April.
In the coalition’s pension dispute, the Young Group of Unity faction called for a postponement of the controversial legislation within the party. “We cannot agree on the package as it stands now,” group chairman Pascal Reddig told “Spiegel”. He could only advise against “voting when we don’t know what the outcome will be.”
Reddig then reiterated a position he has held for weeks, despite recent calls from Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) to back him on his reform agenda. This is not the first time there has been no visible coalition majority due to dissent from the European Union. In June, when too many Union lawmakers threatened to vote no in the Bundestag on plans to elect a constitutional justice appointee, Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf, the election was called off at short notice.
Decision only in April?
Reddig said: “We wouldn’t feel hurt if we just said that we can only decide on the pension package in April. And before that, the pension commission meets, makes recommendations, and then we decide on pension packages I and II together.”
The pension law is intended to ensure the stabilization of the pension level at 48 percent by 2031 and the expansion of maternal pensions. However, for younger groups, the higher pension rates after 2031, which are also provided, are too expensive. Parliamentary union group leader Jens Spahn (CDU) has promoted the coalition leaders’ course in the Bundestag with the prospect of a basic pension package. Merz, Spahn and the SPD leadership want the law on pension rates and maternal pensions to be passed in December and take effect in January.
Redding referred to the coalition committee on Thursday. If there is no agreement here, the youth group will discuss voting behavior. However, just a day before entrepreneurs’ day, Chancellor Merz supported the SPD’s stance that the higher pension rate should remain even after 2031. The SPD rejected changes to the draft. Reddig added that he did not want to endanger the coalition or the government.
dpa/cvb
