Kühnert finds FDP's assaults on pensions tedious.
There's still tension in the budget dispute between the traffic light coalition. The FDP is pushing for the removal of the retirement age of 63, but the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the Greens strongly oppose this. SPD General Secretary Kevin Kühnert has been very vocal in his criticism of the Liberals.
Politicians from the SPD and the Greens have spoken out against their Liberal coalition partner's five-point plan for the federal budget and pensions. This is just another example of the back-and-forth between the FDP and the CDU/CSU over pensions that has become tedious, according to Mr. Kühnert. Doing away with the current pension laws would mean a cut in benefits for millions of employees, he says.
Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz and SPD party leader Saskia Esken have already made it clear that they're against pension cuts for seniors. The Liberal's five-point plan, which they plan to adopt on Monday, offers a "budget policy that's fair for all generations," according to the FDP. It emphasizes the need to abide by the debt limit in the German Constitution and not overburden young people when it comes to funding pensions. Consequently, the FDP is calling for reforms to social systems and the abolition of "retirement at 63," a pension without deductions for those who have completed a long period of insurance.
Testing certainties
Konstantin von Notz, the deputy leader of the Green party, has criticized the FDP's push for adherence to the debt brake in 2025. "In times of increased Russian aggression and extremism, certainties like the debt brake must be re-evaluated - even in their current form," he says. With the need for increased investment in German defense, police, and cybersecurity, these matters are critical to our community's well-being, not just nice-to-have expenditures.
The budget dispute between the coalition partners persists. It's well-known that several ministries don't want to go along with Finance Minister Christian Lindner's strict savings targets and have announced additional demands. Despite this, Scholz remains hopeful that an agreement can be reached by July, before the parliamentary summer break.
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The SPD and Alliance 90/The Greens have united in their opposition to the FDP's proposal to eliminate the retirement age of 63. Kühnert, the SPD's general secretary, has openly criticized the Liberals for their pension policy. The five-point plan from the FDP, aiming for a balanced budget policy, includes the abolition of "retirement at 63" to reduce pension benefits.
Source: www.ntv.de
