Steffen Krach, the co-chairman of SPD Berlin and a leading candidate for the district assembly elections, has called for the abolition of Germany’s Mothers’ Pension as part of the ongoing retirement debate. Simultaneously, he leveled sharp criticism against CSU leader Markus Söder.
Speaking to the news portal T-Online, Krach stated clearly, “The biggest blocker of reform in this country sits in Bavaria, and his name is Markus Söder.” He criticized the fact that while the SPD’s Pension Commission put forth many significant proposals, the Mothers’ Pension remained untouched. Krach argued, “Some measures hurt us more than the Union.”
While the SPD asserts its readiness for reform, Krach emphasized that the Union must also make concessions. “Swallowing frogs is not a one-way street,” he warned, particularly regarding the CSU, which he accuses of selectively choosing issues while ignoring their own established programs, such as the Mothers’ Pension. “That belongs on the table now too.”
The Pension Commission officially presented 33 suggestions on Tuesday. These proposals include the elimination of the retirement age of 63 and the introduction of a mandatory capital pension. Notably, the report does not address the CSU’s five-billion-euro Mothers’ Pension project.
Krach called the commission’s proposals an overall “good starting point for real reform,” but added that the fine details must now be hammered out in the ensuing process. He praised several initiatives as being in the right direction, such as including freelancers and members of parliament in the pension system, recommending the inclusion of civil servants, and advancing the move toward a capital-backed pillar. He also supported the idea of cautiously linking the retirement age to life expectancy for future generations. However, Krach stressed that a clear solution must also be found for individuals who would be forced into retirement after decades of hard work simply because they are physically unable to continue.
