Spahn: FDP is "misplaced" thematically.
The Free Democratic Party (FDP) released a new position statement recently, requesting the abolition of retirement at 63. However, it's unclear if the party knows exactly what they want. On the ARD talk show "Maischberger," these doubts were apparent.
The FDP is feeling the pressure as voters appear to be deserting them. Even business leaders are voicing their concerns. In a five-point document published on Monday, the FDP calls for an end to retirement at 63, which is already 64 for the current cohort. The party warns of increasing national debt, social security contribution expenses, and the ongoing weakness of the German economy. They are particularly critical of the full pension for long-term employees.
Berlin journalists jokingly refer to what the FDP has been doing in recent weeks as "Punkteritis." Before the five-point paper "For a Fair Budget Policy for All Generations," the party had already presented a twelve-point paper "For an Economic Turnaround" in April, which was approved at its party conference. At a press conference on Monday, FDP Secretary General Djir-Sarai mentioned a nine-point paper. This was supposed to be a joke, presumably.
The Liberals have several ideas for pensions. The pension package presented by Finance Minister Lindner of the FDP and Labor and Social Affairs Minister Heil of the SPD in March won't be discussed by the cabinet today, as planned. It's set to be adopted this month, possibly without the abolition of the regular retirement age. This is because there's no majority for this in the traffic light coalition. The FDP hopes to agree on this in the parliamentary process following the bill's submission to the Bundestag.
Or maybe not. If FDP parliamentary group leader Dürr has his way, there may still be a retirement age, although it would rise to 72.
On the other hand, Max Mordhorst, who represents the Liberals on the Bundestag's Finance Committee, wants to keep the current retirement age for now - but only for low-income earners.
A discussion on "Maischberger" talk show on German channel Ersten might shed light on the issue. On Tuesday evening, FDP and CDU parliamentary group leaders Konstantin Kuhle and Jens Spahn will engage in a conversation. A preview: you'll be just as smart at the end of the show as you were at the beginning.
Criticizing the Coalition Wars
Jens Spahn begins as anticipated: he criticizes the constant arguments in the traffic light coalition. Given the current political climate, political leadership is needed. "But instead of political leadership, there have been daily arguments for two years, new proposals every day. Finance ministers and economics ministers from the third-largest economy in the world are sending different signals to the world each day," he says. Investors are now unsure about Germany's direction at home and abroad. "We need a turnaround, an economic turnaround, a budget turnaround - the best turnaround would be the end of the traffic lights," Spahn rhymes somewhat awkwardly. He then continues in prose: the traffic light system is the largest location risk for Germany, and we need to return to a sane policy. The CDU/CSU and FDP support many of the Liberals' demands, says Spahn. But the problem is the conflict. And it's time for the FDP to face the consequences of the fact that little of what they want is happening.
Kuhle's Silence on Pensions
"I would really like us to focus on what's important right now," says Konstantin Kuhle. This isn't about the federal government or FDP, but the state of the German economy. It's in a bad state. And the three coalition parties are arguing about how to improve it. "And I'm sure we'll achieve something good."
Kuhle is not a fan of constantly creating papers. Now laws need to be enacted. "Our papers are the basis for this," he says. We need a real economic turnaround. This includes reducing bureaucracy and discussing new regulations on overtime taxation.
The host wanted to know multiple times about the pension situation. The FDP didn't agree to the retirement age of 63 at the time and it's not included in the current pension package, which the federal government hasn't decided on yet. "Something needs to happen for companies in Germany because the economic situation can't remain the same. That's why we want to change things," says Kuhle.
However, Maischberger queried about pensions repeatedly. Kuhle insisted it wasn't about pension at 63, but the entire package of budget and economic turnaround, and pensions as well. It's about finding a package that will benefit the German economy. "That's the reason why we're doing what we're doing." This doesn't seem to include Chancellor Olaf Scholz's demand to raise the minimum wage to 15 euros. Scholz knows the FDP won't accept this, says Kuhle.
Spahn supports discussions about pension reforms. However, he believes the FDP is off-target on this issue. "The main problem we're facing isn't pensions. The foundation for pension and social policies lies in economic growth. Unfortunately, the current pension discussion doesn't spur economic growth. So, I have to say, they've missed the mark."
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- During the discussion on the MAISCHBERGER talk show, FDP parliamentary group leader Jens Spahn criticized both the coalition partners and his own party, stating that the FDP has been misplaced thematically in their pension policy focus and that their constant creation of papers is not enough to address the current state of the German economy.
- While discussing pension policy on the MAISCHBERGER talk show, Jens Spahn, representing the CDU, criticized the FDP's pension package and asserted that the main issue is not pensions but economic growth, implying that the FDP has yet to find a viable solution.
- In response to repeated inquiries about pension policy on the MAISCHBERGER talk show, Konstantin Kuhle, representing the FDP, expressed a focus on the German economy's entire budget and economic turnaround, emphasizing the need for a package that will benefit the economy instead of a specific retirement age, such as 63.
Source: www.ntv.de
