German Politics: Union Leader Warns of Potential Rift with SPD over Pension Reform
In a recent interview, Jens Spahn, the leader of the Christian Democratic Union’s (CDU) parliamentary faction, expressed concerns that the Social Democratic Party (SPD) may disregard key demands of the CDU during the planned pension reform. Spahn emphasized that the CDU has consistently maintained that a comprehensive package of pension-related measures, including the fixed 48% pension rate, mother’s pension, active pension, early start pension and company pension, must be passed together in the German parliament.
The CDU’s stance comes as the newly elected SPD leader and Federal Minister of Labor, Bärbel Bas, has presented a draft of her first pension law. Spahn’s comments suggest a potential rift between the two coalition partners, with the CDU adamant that its proposed pension package is non-negotiable.
Separately, Spahn defended the German government’s decision not to lower the electricity tax for private consumers, as initially promised. He attributed the decision to the country’s strained fiscal situation, following three years of recession. Spahn emphasized that the government’s commitment to reducing the electricity tax for all, as outlined in the coalition agreement, will be implemented in stages, with the first step being the reduction for the manufacturing sector. He argued that this move will stimulate the economy, ultimately benefiting all citizens. The government has also taken immediate action to reduce network charges by 6.5 billion euros, making electricity more affordable for private consumers.