Government coalition partners, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Social Democratic Party (SPD) and Christian Social Union (CSU), convened Thursday evening at the Chancellery for a heated coalition committee meeting, grappling with a series of politically sensitive and economically impactful policy disagreements. The discussions, marked by visible tensions between factions, centered primarily on the proposed pension reform package, the contentious heating law and the planned phase-out of internal combustion engine vehicles.
The pension reform package has emerged as the most immediate point of contention. A group of 18 conservative parliamentarians within the CDU/CSU’s “Young Group” is reportedly blocking the current draft, objecting to the legally binding nature of the proposed 48% pension level target by 2031. This resistance threatens to derail the reform, potentially undermining the government’s credibility and triggering a political crisis. CDU parliamentary group leader Jens Spahn signaled the possibility of a “Pension Package 2” to appease the dissenting voices, suggesting a willingness to compromise that has been met with cautious optimism from Young Group Chairman Pascal Reddig, contingent on concrete and enforceable commitments from the coalition.
The future of the heating law, initially enshrined in the coalition agreement and slated for abolition, is also generating significant friction. Plans for a reform of the Building Energy Act, intended to be “technology-open” and “flexible” are stirring anxieties within both the CDU and the SPD. Economics Minister Katarina Reiche (CDU) has voiced concerns about what she characterized as a “compulsory adoption of heat pumps” while Housing Minister Verena Hubertz (SPD) cautioned against jeopardizing climate protection goals. This divergence in perspective highlights a fundamental disagreement on the balance between economic realities and environmental imperatives.
While the ongoing war in Ukraine is occupying international attention – despite a 28-point action plan recently published in Washington – it appears to have played a comparatively minor role in the coalition discussions, although a group of pro-Ukrainian demonstrators gathered outside the Chancellery to voice their concerns and demand continued resolute support for Kyiv.
The outcome of the coalition committee’s deliberations remains uncertain, with further details expected to be released Friday. The tensions and diverging viewpoints exposed during the meeting underscore the fragility of the governing alliance and signal a potentially difficult path ahead as the coalition attempts to reconcile competing interests and navigate a complex political landscape.