Minister-President of Saxony-Anhalt, Sven Schulze (CDU), has criticized the ongoing debate surrounding the state pension system, a discussion initiated by Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU), arguing that it should be treated as a fundamental necessity for the region.
Speaking to the TV channel “Welt” on Thursday, Schulze emphasized that one critical factor regarding pensions is that Berlin must understand the specific financial situation of people in Eastern Germany. He noted that residents in Saxony-Anhalt have generally lacked the opportunity to save privately or benefit from company pension schemes.
Consequently, Schulze stressed that any pension reform must be extremely considerate of these systemic disparities. He cautioned that individuals who may retire within the next decade cannot afford to supplement their savings privately at this time, and discussing reform in a way that ignores this fact is fundamentally incorrect.
The Minister-President announced that he intends to actively oppose any pension plans that do not take these localized needs into account. “That will not happen, at least not with me” he stated. He assured the public that residents of Saxony-Anhalt can rely on him to exert a strong voice in Berlin and that he will not allow all currently discussed measures to pass without opposition.
Schulze voiced general fatigue with the continuous stream of reform debates emanating from Berlin. He called for a shift away from constant, week-by-week political squabbling and stressed the urgent need for tangible results. He argued that such outcomes must be negotiated directly among the Minister-Presidents, because the states and their people-including those in Saxony-Anhalt-will ultimately be affected. “I do not need political conflict in Berlin; it does not help us at all”.
On a related note, Schulze also warned about the CDU’s proposed plans for an income tax reform, urging speed and action. He called on both the SPD and the CDU to move quickly, arguing that continued discussions lasting for months, which ultimately only result in “the smallest common denominator” will not benefit Germany.