The Social Democratic Party (SPD) has followed the Christian Union in rejecting a proposal for a special levy on high-earning retirees. SPD parliamentarian Bernd Rützel, the party’s rapporteur for labor and social affairs within the parliamentary group, voiced his opposition in an interview with “Tagesspiegel”. He characterized the suggested levy as creating division, pitting one generation against another and stated that such an approach is undesirable.
Rützel emphasized that many retirees have built up their financial security over extended periods, contributing to the system for decades. He underscored the nature of pensions as performance-based benefits, rather than purely social welfare, highlighting the importance of stability and predictability for those entering retirement. He stated that retirees should be able to rely on the terms established at the time they began contributing.
According to the coalition agreement, the governing black-red coalition intends to commission an expert panel to present reform proposals before the midpoint of the legislative period. Rützel redirected focus to this forthcoming commission. He noted the presence of numerous potential solutions and indicated that the panel will focus on the long-term financial sustainability and fairness within the national pension system. He suggested the proposed levy is likely a temporary, politically-driven issue.