The FDP is open to further pension reform. Parliamentary group leader Dürr is calling for a flexible entry age so that “people voluntarily work longer”.
Berlin – As part of the traffic light coalition, the FDP supported the pension package II presented at the beginning of March. The Liberals still see a need for reform. Parliamentary group leader Christian Dürr is in favor of a higher retirement age – beyond the current 67 years. “In connection with this reform, we should also decide to make retirement more flexible so that people can voluntarily work longer,” said the FDP member of the Bundestag in
Bild
.
When calling for a flexible pension, Dürr cited Sweden as a role model. In contrast to Germany, there is no uniform retirement age there. Instead, there is a flexible model with retirement starting at age 62 at the earliest. “These rigid designs no longer apply according to the motto: Everyone is equal, everyone retires at 65 or 67,” said the FDP politician. “If you want to work longer, it’s worth it.”
FDP is considering a flexible retirement age: Why should I forbid someone from working at 70 or 72?”
With a view to Germany, Dürr can imagine starting his retirement at 72. “Why should I prohibit someone from working at 70 or 72? That would be downright crazy," the Liberal parliamentary group leader told Bild
.
"There are a lot of people who say: I have a great job or have found a new task that I feel like doing."
The FDP deputy parliamentary group leader, however, was worried about increases in pension costs. “When it comes to statutory pensions, we have to ask ourselves at what point further increases in contributions are disproportionate for even more pension expenses,” said Christoph Meyer to the
AFP
news agency . “We Free Democrats are ready to talk about structural reforms so that the statutory pension does not eat up people’s salaries through contributions and taxes.”
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SPD Prime Minister Schwesig rejects calls for pension cuts
The deputy parliamentary group leader agreed with the fundamental criticism of employer president Rainer Dulger's pension reform. He was “stunned” that Federal Labor Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD) “now wants to massively increase pension spending again, even though we are facing the biggest aging surge that has ever occurred in Germany,” Dulger told Bild
am Sonntag
.
However, the SPD rejects the demand for cuts in the statutory pension. “We will not allow the ax to be put on pensions,” said Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania’s Prime Minister and SPD state chairwoman Manuela Schwesig at the state party conference on Saturday, April 13th. It's not just about ensuring adequate financing for life in old age, explained Schwesig. It's also about respect and recognition of work performance. Schwesig also defended the pension regulations at 63. (ms with afp)