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After long blockades, the second pension package is now to be passed. But the debate about pension reforms continues. Now CDU General Secretary Linnemann is joining in.
Berlin – On Friday, the Finance Ministry released the draft of the second pension package after having blocked it for a long time. This means that the much-discussed measure of the traffic light coalition could be approved by the federal cabinet on Wednesday (May 29). Central components of the reform are the introduction of the share pension and the safeguarding of the pension level of 48 percent. The first is based on an election promise by the FDP, the latter is an initiative of the SPD.
Linnemann on pension dispute: Greens give impression “that efforts are no longer needed”
The retirement age of 67 will also not be increased as part of the second pension package, and early retirement at 63 for people born in 1961 or older will be retained. Most recently, the FDP vehemently demanded that retirement at 63 be abolished altogether or at least restricted. “We will not change that,” said Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) at the end of April at the SPD’s campaign launch for the European elections in Hamburg.
The second pension package of the traffic light coalition has not even been finally adopted yet, and the opposition coalition of CDU and CSU is still heating up the debate about reforms to the German pension system. In an interview with FocusOnline CDU General Secretary Carsten Lindemann has now expressed his criticism of the Greens’ pension policy.
According to Linnemann, the Greens are giving the population the wrong impression by believing that the state is capable of covering all risks and solving problems with money. This is “that effort is no longer necessary and that achievement is no longer worth anything,” said Linnemann. “The Greens do not motivate, but restrict people with bans. This cannot create hope or a spirit of optimism. I would like to see a culture of doing things – so that we are excited about the future again,” added the CDU general secretary.
CDU General Secretary Linnemann calls for “active pension” – rigid age limit is “complete nonsense”
At the end of March (26 March), CDU General Secretary Linnemann had already called for more differentiation on the subject of pensions – and at the same time defended his party’s plans to increase the retirement age. In view of the increasing life expectancy, this is “a perspective for people who can continue to work,” Linnemann said in the ARD-Morning MagazineThose who can no longer work, such as construction workers, must be given more support.
At this point, Linnemann had already spoken out in favor of a so-called active pension, whereby people of retirement age can continue to work if they wish and do not pay taxes on income up to 2,000 euros. In this context, Linnemann also emphasized that rigid age limits are “complete nonsense.”
Linnemann also underlined the CDU’s criticism of the traffic light government’s pension plans. “It is completely unacceptable to take out a loan, get into debt and then buy shares,” said the CDU general secretary. Instead, private and company pension schemes must also be reformed and strengthened.
Habeck fundamentally ruled out discussion about raising the retirement age
Although Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck (Greens) had already spoken out in early March this year (7 March) in the programme “Early start” from RTL and n-tv While stressing that he did not want to have a debate about an extended retirement age, he called for more flexible regulations for those who wish to continue working after reaching retirement age.
Habeck also warned: “There are jobs where you are worn out after many years and we shouldn’t put pressure on people to work longer,” said the economics minister. Where there is a willingness to do so, it should not be punished but encouraged. “And I think that is fair enough,” added Habeck.
Greens increasingly emphasized that they wanted to “create incentives” – but they remained unnamed
The demand for incentives for those who want to continue working after reaching retirement age was also reiterated a few weeks ago (9 May) by Green Party Federal Chairwoman Ricarda Lang in a Mirror-Interview: “Today, when people retire, we lose many employees with good expertise, some of whom still want to continue working.”
When asked whether she wanted to abolish the pension at 63, Lang said: “It’s about incentives, not about abolishing it.” In addition, consideration must be given to how pensions can be financially secured in the long term. However, comparatively little has been said about what exactly these incentives could look like. Instead, Lang brought another aspect into the debate, how the level of pensions in Germany could be secured: “One point would be that politicians and civil servants would pay into the statutory pension system,” said the Green Party’s federal chairwoman.
Recently, the future general manager of the Paritätischer Gesamtverband, Joachim Rock, joined the pension debate. He also called on the Stuttgart newspaper, To make self-employed people and civil servants pay into the pension fund in the future. According to him, the current pension package II of the traffic light coalition is not sufficient to ensure a pension above the poverty line.
Union continues to reject pension contributions for civil servants and self-employed
There was clear criticism from the ranks of the Union faction, And not for the first timeFor example, Marc Biadacz, chairman for labour and social affairs of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, demanded IPPEN.MEDIA from the traffic light coalition “finally a pension concept from a single source”.
However, Biadacz rejects the idea of making civil servants and the self-employed pay pension insurance contributions: “I am convinced that including all self-employed and civil servants in the statutory pension insurance system does not add any value and does not contribute to social justice.”
In fact, the opposite would be the case, explains the Union politician, because the statutory pension is financed through contributions. “The new insured persons would also acquire entitlement to benefits, so that, on balance, no improvements in benefits would be expected.” Instead, Biadacz can imagine continuing to rely on the three pillars of old-age security in the future: the statutory pension, company pensions and private pensions. In addition, however, he wants to “supplement the statutory pension with a funded pension plan,” he stressed. (fh)
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