[ad_1]
Saturday, April 03, 2021
“Consensus between parties”
Laschet wants pension reform for generations
The head of the CDU, Laschet, goes on the thematic offensive: the next coalition must address the issue of pensions and draw up a plan for the next generations. It does not go into details. The other parties generally agree on the matter and refer to many of their own ideas.
CDU leader Armin Laschet is aiming for a cross-party pension reform after federal elections. “I want a broad social consensus, also with a pension commission in which everyone is involved,” said the head of the NRW government and a possible candidate for chancellor of the Union. With a bipartisan consensus, he wanted to allow “trust in all kingdoms.” “Now we have to see: How can we make pension systems future-proof for future generations?” This question will need to be answered and planned for the next 10-15 years.
While there is rejection from the Greens parliamentary group and thus a possible future coalition partner, the FDP is showing signs of general approval. The current SPD coalition partner speaks of a diversionary maneuver and asked the CDU to first clarify its own course internally. Laschet receives the support of the youth of his own party, combined with the demand to be included in the debate on pensions.
“We’ve always said that we need a longer working life as we all get older,” Laschet said. “Entering the retirement age at 67 was the right decision.” The pension policy needs “confidence about the change of reigns”, justified its movement in the direction of the other parties. “I think that regardless of which government comes next, we have to answer the question of pensions again as far as possible in a broad social consensus.”
Laschet recalled pension policy from the 1950s. Then-Chancellor Konrad Adenauer tried to make such cross-party decisions, as different governments would come into office in such long periods of time.
SPD Vice President Kevin Kühnert spoke of a transparent diversionary maneuver. “Laschet would do well to first clarify what the CDU’s common position is with an internal party pension commission,” he said. “We are not available for pension cuts out the back door.” The SPD had long ago presented its pension concept. “It is clear to us that good pensions require good wages. Raising the minimum wage to 12 euros, which we are asking, would not only be an act of justice, but also a huge boost to the statutory pension.”
The grand coalition has already launched a joint pension commission with employers and unions, which presented its results a year ago, Kühnert said. “The fact that many things remained vague was due among other things to massive internal disagreements in the Union.” The social and economic branches of the CDU do not agree on the retirement age, the pension level, the inclusion of self-employed workers and civil servants, as well as the income threshold.
Citizen insurance, Swedish model, new commission?
Green pension expert Markus Kurth said: “In recent years, the Union did not care about a consensus on pension policy.” It has “applied a tough interest policy at the expense of pension insurance.” There is no need for “more pension commissions brainstorming with bad results.” What is needed is a plan, and the Greens have one with the aim of public insurance and long-term stabilization of the level of pensions.
The FDP, however, welcomed Laschet’s initiative in principle. “When it comes to pensions, it is urgent to finally think in terms of decades and legislative periods,” said pension policy spokesman Johannes Vogel. “However, the CDU will have to show its colors in the electoral manifesto, because a coming federal government cannot avoid bold action.” Following the Swedish model, the FDP proposes a completely flexible retirement age. He wants to make the system stable for all generations through a legal shared pension and, in particular, fairer for low wage earners.
Union Youngsters of the Junge Union (JU) President Tilman Kuban said: “Major reform is needed as baby boomers will retire at the end of the decade.” A bipartisan commission with a young cast could be key to such reform. The head of JU demanded that concrete laws must be implemented by 2024. The JU is available “as a lawyer for the young generation.”
