She argued that, given demographic shifts, older generations have a responsibility to moderate their benefit expectations to avoid unduly burdening the working population
The Caritas president emphasized that vibrant intergenerational solidarity is essential for successful social state reform, warning that a failure to achieve this could fuel age-based discrimination
Her comments come in response to recent statements made by both Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Labor Minister Bärbel Bas regarding the financial sustainability of the current social system Merz previously asserted that Germany is living beyond its means and that the existing social state is no longer economically viable Bas countered this claim, dismissing the assertion that the social insurance system and welfare state are financially unsustainable as inaccurate
Welskop-Deffaa maintains that the social state “is” reformable and requires continuous adjustments to address evolving social challenges She advocates for adaptations that minimize the gap between the ideals of the welfare state and the realities of social conditions Ultimately, she calls for preserving the core tenets of the social system while continuing to balance state responsibility with individual accountability
