Thorsten Frei, head of the Office of the Chancellor and a CDU member, stated that he supports the possibility of later retirement. Speaking on the ntv program “Pinar Atalay” on Monday, Frei mentioned that a retirement commission is scheduled to present its findings in June and expects that the commission will include proposals regarding the duration of people’s working lives.
When asked what retirement age would be realistic in the future, Frei referred to the already mandated retirement age of 67, stressing that this age must eventually be reached. He argued that the key parameter must be life expectancy. According to him, “If life expectancy increases, we cannot work for a shorter time; we must work longer. I consider that to be a fundamental mathematical truth”.
Frei also cautioned against simplistic discussions regarding specific age limits. He asserted that many actions can be taken to keep people in the workforce longer, noting that the issue of pensions will also be shaped by technological advancements, such as artificial intelligence. He concluded by stating that a simple extension of one’s working life by half a year “does not solve the problems” calling such a claim incorrect.
