„Rente mit 63“: Frei sieht im Rentenstreit keinen Verhandlungsspielraum

In the coalition parties of CDU, CSU, and SPD, there is ongoing debate over the age for a pension-free retirement after 45 years of contributions. While nearly half of the state leaders desire the abolition of this early retirement, Union faction head Thorsten Frei, from the CDU, states that he does not see room for negotiation on this matter.

"I truly don't see this space for negotiation," Frei emphasized during an interview with Welt TV. The abolition of the "pension at 63" - which is currently only available at 64.5 years - is part of a comprehensive plan from the pension commission to be implemented by the leaders of the black-red coalition. "We will adhere to this commitment," Frei assured in an interview with Table.Briefings.

Saxony's Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer (CDU), one of the strongest critics of the plan, however, does not sufficiently consider the situation of the population in eastern Germany. "It's about four to five million pensioners and retirees who on average earn between €1,300 and €1,500 per month," Kretschmer wrote on the X platform.

Critics of the commission's recommendations warn against taking parts of the plan out of the overall concept. "The strength of the reform package comes from the interactions of the individual recommendations," explained economist Jörg Rocholl in the "Rheinischen Post." "If someone is against the abolition of the pension at 63, they should be aware that this could jeopardize other measures, such as the introduction of capital coverage."

Similar statements were made by economic expert Martin Werding, who was also a member of the pension commission. The package contains grave concerns for workers, employers, pensioners, and self-employed individuals - now removing a group from this would shatter the entire package. "These big things must play off against each other, otherwise the whole thing doesn't work," warned Werding in the economic magazine "Capital."

Opposition from state leaders, including from the west Some of the 16 state leaders are against the proposed abolition, including the five state leaders from eastern Germany, Manuela Schwesig (SPD) from Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Dietmar Woidke (SPD) from Brandenburg, as well as the three Christian Democratic state leaders Michael Kretschmer (Sachsen), Mario Voigt (Thüringen), and Sven Schulze (Sachsen-Anhalt).

Schulze made it clear at a meeting in Dessau-Roßlau that the criticism is not against the entire package. It was necessary, however, and should be allowed to address the specific eastern German concerns. State Premier Anke Rehlinger of Saarland, who is also the SPD federal vice, and Bremen's state leader Andreas Bovenschulte (SPD) also wish to maintain the "pension at 63".

Rehlinger said on ZDF "today journal", there is a "great injustice" in the commission's proposals. Schwesig appealed to the federal government to involve the states early in drafting the laws. "Big reforms can only be made together," she said on Welt TV. The FDP complains of the "rental chaos" from the coalition's internal discord.

FDP Secretary General Martin Hagen spoke to the Deutsche Presse-Agentur. "Black-Red has neither the strength to implement the Rentencommission's proposals one by one, nor the political power and courage to develop and implement meaningful alternatives to individual ideas of the commission." Left Bundestag Vice Chancellor Bodo Ramelow considers the debate on the pension at 63 misguided.

"I'd rather we discussed at length that it is about age poverty," he said on rbb24 Inforadio. Poverty makes people afraid, and this fear of the future triggers the greatest part of society. He appealed to the critics to see the entire package - to not let doubts cloud their judgment. Frei, until recently the Chancellor's chief, wants the pension package to be respected.

"I see no reason why we, whether they are Bundestag deputies or state leaders, should come to smarter decisions that are just as weighed down as those made by the Age Security Commission," Frei said on Welt TV. He warned the critics: "Even if one might disagree with some issues, I believe every responsible politician in the end has to take an overall look at the measures. And then one should go with what one perhaps does not want 100%."