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Dispute over basic pension: Altmeier continues to rely on means test

2019-11-09T07:40:55.939Z


In the dispute over the basic rent, Minister of Economic Affairs Peter Altmeier insists on the means test, but shows willingness to compromise. Like his colleague, Finance Minister Olaf Scholz, he wishes for an agreement.



On Sunday, the coalition leaders come together to finally reach a compromise on the conditions of the land rent. In the dispute about it, Federal Minister of Economics Peter Altmaier (CDU) has affirmed the demand of the Union for a need test of the basic pension, but further compromise on their exact design shown.

"The Union is only willing to introduce the basic pension, if it goes hand in hand with a means test," said Altmaier the Duesseldorfer "Rheinische Post". "People with high other incomes should not benefit from the basic pension, because that would be at the expense of all other citizens."

How exactly the means test is designed, "we can talk about it, and we do," said the CDU politician. In addition, it must be "unequivocally guaranteed" that the basic pension is financed solely from budgetary resources and "not by a grasp in the pension fund".

When asked if the grand coalition was to fail on the issue of ground rent, Altmaier said: "No, but for that it is necessary that the SPD is not constantly saddled on the coalition agreement."

According to the coalition agreement, people who have worked for a long time should receive a supplement, so that their pension is ten percent above the basic security. It was also agreed that it will be checked beforehand if those affected are in need. This is what the Union insists on, in contrast to the SPD. The most recent leaked out was that although the dispute "means test" dispensed with, but "the taxable income" of those affected for the calculation of the basic pension could be checked.

Federal Finance Minister Olaf Scholz (SPD) insists in the dispute on an agreement. "We can not postpone the problem any longer, the government has to get it right now," said the vice-chancellor of the editorial network Germany (RND). Anyone who has always worked full-time for the minimum wage is still dependent on government aid as a retiree. "That contradicts every idea of ​​achievement," said Scholz.

Asked whether a continuation of the Grand Coalition without Grundrenten agreement is conceivable, Scholz replied that a government was "not an end in itself", but that it was "there to lead the country and solve the urgent problems".

Kay Nietfeld / DPA

Federal Finance Minister Olaf Scholz (SPD) insists on an agreement

With regard to demands from the Union, in connection with the basic pension also tax relief for companies on the way, said Scholz cautiously. He did not rule out such a coupling business either. "We talk about income in old age," said the SPD politician. It is not wise to comment on ongoing negotiations. "In the end, we need a good solution in the interests of all concerned."

Left-wing parliamentary leader Dietmar Bartsch meanwhile called on Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) to make the question a matter for the boss. "I expect the Chancellor to end this mess with her authority," Bartsch said. "It can not be that the coalition agreement is not implemented in such a central point for so long."

The party political turmoil would damage the belief in the ability to act of politics, Bartsch said. People rightly expected solutions. "The Chancellor bears the main responsibility for this."

Employers' Association warns against wasting money

Meanwhile, the employers' union warned Gesamtmetall of unnecessary costs due to the planned ground rent. "For all social benefits from student loans to housing subsidies, it goes without saying that they are only paid if they are necessary," said Chief Executive Oliver Zander. "Any deviation from the means test enshrined in the Coalition Agreement will lead to more inequities, waste of money and less confidence in the welfare state." The basic rent previously proposed by a coalition working group without a complete means test is nonsensical.

Citizens would only accept half of their income in the form of taxes and social contributions "if they can rely on social benefits to benefit those who really need help," Zander said. "The government must also pay attention to the issue of ground rent."

The chairman of the trade union IG Metall, Jörg Hofmann, however, had emphasized: "The basic pension without means test is a requirement of the justice, because with it life achievement is recognized." It helps to stem old-age poverty and also take right-wing populists wind out of their sails.

Read more about this topic: That's why the Union and the SPD got so involved in the basic pension

Source: spiegel

All news articles on 2019-11-09

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