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PoliticsThree East German CDU state premiers oppose Merz's pension and care reforms
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Chancellor Friedrich Merz faces renewed internal party pressure as three East German CDU state premiers—Sven Schulze (Saxony-Anhalt), Mario Voigt (Thuringia), and Michael Kretschmer (Saxony)—send a letter rejecting planned federal reforms to pensions and long-term care. They oppose the abolition of the deduction-free pension after 45 years of contributions, arguing that those who have paid in for 45 years have contributed enough. The premiers also demand that long-term care remain affordable in low-income retirement areas, criticizing planned increases in individual co-payment shares. This resistance comes shortly after Merz completed a major personnel reshuffle within the Union, and ahead of key state elections in September in Saxony-Anhalt, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, and Berlin. Previously, only SPD state premier Manuela Schwesig had opposed the pension changes, without support from her party leadership.
Source report
Sven Schulze, Michael Kretschmer, and Mario Voigt (from left to right). Source: Sebastian Gollnow/dpa
No sooner has the Union's personnel reshuffle been largely completed than Chancellor Friedrich Merz comes under renewed pressure. The East German CDU state premiers reject planned reforms to pensions and long-term care.
Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) has completed most of his personnel reshuffle – after the heated discussion about it, the Union now wants to look forward. Difficult social reforms – for example on pensions and long-term care – are pending, as are the important state elections in September in Saxony-Anhalt, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, and Berlin.
However, things will not get any easier for the Chancellor on the substantive issues. Resistance to the federal government's reform plans is already stirring, now also within the Union's own ranks.
Key Points of Opposition
The three East German CDU state premiers are opposing the abolition of the deduction-free pension after 45 years of contributions – as recommended by the pension commission.
"Anyone who has paid in for 45 years has paid in enough. We will not give up this principle," write Sven Schulze from Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia's Mario Voigt, and Saxony's Michael Kretschmer in a letter to the federal government.
They plan to present the statement during the day at a meeting in southern Saxony-Anhalt.
Broader Context
Until now, it was mainly Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's SPD state premier Manuela Schwesig who had opposed the abolition of the deduction-free early pension – but she had so far found no support within the SPD leadership.
Long-Term Care Concerns
Furthermore, the three CDU state premiers are calling on the federal government to find a way to ensure that long-term care remains affordable in the future, even in areas where retirement incomes are low. The planned changes, however, increase the individual co-payment share.
"We will not agree to this path," it said.
Instead, individual financial capacity must be taken into account.
Source: dpa/ceb
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New Trouble for Merz: East German CDU State Premiers Oppose Pension and Care Reforms