Leading CDU politicians are demanding a major pension reform this year, with a focus on strengthening occupational and private retirement provision. Pascal Reddig, a CDU member of the pension reform commission, told the Rheinische Post that there is consensus on the need for such a reform. He praised the commission’s early establishment and its swift progress toward concrete results. Reddig, who voted against the federal government’s pension package in the Bundestag, stressed that the overhaul must markedly boost both occupational and private pensions.
Johannes Winkel, the head of the Junge Union, echoed this urgency. He warned that in the 2030s the baby‑boomer cohort will have fully exited the labour market, creating unsolvable challenges for the pay‑roll‑funded pension system. Winkel called for bold reforms and supported the chancellor’s push for greater employee participation in market gains. “Why are German workers not sharing in company profits? It’s absurd to hand this over to investors alone” he said.
Marc Biadacz, the Union faction’s social‑policy spokesperson, emphasised speed. “By summer, the commission will present concrete proposals for Pension Reform II, which we will fast‑track in the second half of the year. Many ideas are already on the table” Biadacz told the Rheinische Post. He added that the commission must also address the future role of occupational and private pensions. “Our goal is a system that remains stable, financially sustainable, and fair for all generations” he concluded.