A faction within the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), known as the “Junge Gruppe” (Young Group), is mounting a significant challenge to the German government’s proposed pension reform package, threatening to derail the legislation and sparking a fierce intergenerational debate. The group, comprised of 18 members, has issued a formal resolution declaring the bill “not approvable in its current form” according to a report in “Der Spiegel”.
The crux of the disagreement centers around the long-term financial implications of the proposed reforms and their perceived unfairness to younger generations. While the Junge Gruppe acknowledges their commitment to the coalition agreement between the CDU/CSU and the Social Democratic Party (SPD), which mandates stabilization of the pension level at 48% until 2031, they contend that the bill’s authors, particularly SPD Labour Minister Bärbel Bas, are deliberately sidestepping the realities beyond that date.
The proposed legislation, as currently drafted, would effectively raise the pension level permanently by one percent beyond what existing law dictates. This seemingly small increase triggers an estimated €115 billion in additional costs between 2032 and 2040, with expenditures continuing well beyond 2040. The Junge Gruppe’s resolution characterizes this potential outcome as “the most expensive social law of this century” adding a “permanent multibillion-euro burden on the shoulders of the young generation.
Pascal Reddig, chairman of the Junge Gruppe, criticized the bill as failing to account for future generations, explicitly stating that such a burden is “unacceptable”. The dissenting voices within the CDU highlight a growing tension within the conservative bloc regarding social spending and the intergenerational equity of policy. Whether the Junge Gruppe’s challenge will succeed in forcing substantive changes to the pension reform package remains to be seen, but their resistance underscores a broader political vulnerability for the governing coalition as it attempts to navigate complex economic and demographic pressures. The issue also risks fueling resentment amongst younger voters concerned about the sustainability of social welfare systems and the long-term consequences of current political decisions.