The Premier of North Rhine-Westphalia, Hendrik Wüst of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), has urged the federal government to undertake a comprehensive pension reform focused on intergenerational fairness. In an interview with Focus magazine, Wüst stated that a significant reform within the current legislative period would be beneficial. He expressed confidence in the ability of the CDU and Social Democratic Party (SPD) to modernize the German pension system for the future.
Wüst emphasized the need for a system that acknowledges the contributions of younger generations throughout their working lives. Addressing questions about potential adjustments, he suggested leveraging increased life expectancy to shape pension policies. He cautioned against continually incentivizing retirement and voiced support for the concept of “active retirement” a model being pursued by the current federal government.
The Premier argued that the state should consider providing tax support for individuals who choose to remain in the workforce during retirement, rather than simply imposing restrictions. He added that any proposals mandating longer working lives must address the challenges faced by individuals in physically demanding professions, highlighting the importance of early preventative and rehabilitative measures to ensure sustainable working longevity. He warned against policies that could lead to individuals working themselves to exhaustion and stressed the need to create conditions that allow for extended working lives without undue burden.