Thorsten Frei, the CDU head of the Chancellery Office, stated that he is in favor of delaying retirement. During an interview with ntv’s “Pinar Atalay” on Monday, Frei mentioned that the pension commission is expected to present its findings in the near future, perhaps in June. He expressed confidence that the commission will also include suggestions regarding the total amount of working life.
When asked what retirement age would be realistic going forward, Frei pointed to the currently established retirement age of 67, noting that this goal will be reached soon enough. He argued that life expectancy must serve as the standard. According to him, “If life expectancy rises, then we cannot work for a shorter period; rather, we must work longer. I believe this is a mathematical truth”.
However, Frei also issued a warning against overly abbreviated discussions concerning specific age limits. He stated that there are numerous measures that can be implemented to allow people to work for extended periods. Furthermore, he emphasized that the issue of pensions is set to change significantly due to technological advancements, such as artificial intelligence. He dismissed the notion that simply extending the working life by six months would solve the underlying problems, calling it incorrect.