Saxony’s Minister-President, Michael Kretschmer (CDU), has publicly criticized the Federal Government for failing to grasp the situation in Eastern Germany, warning that this disagreement could force him to block key upcoming reforms concerning pensions and long-term care in the Bundesrat.
Speaking to Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland, Kretschmer asserted, “Fundamentally, I see little understanding of the East within the current Federal Government.” He noted this perception was reflected in major planned reforms in healthcare, pensions, and social care. To illustrate the economic disparity, Kretschmer stated that average pensions in Saxony range from 1,300 to 1,500 Euros, while the out-of-pocket costs for a care facility exceed 3,000 Euros.
The Minister-President stressed that his focus is on advocating for residents in the East who have faced different career paths. He issued a clear warning: “Without changes, we will not be able to agree to the pension or care reform in the Bundesrat. And if other states also do not consent, then these pension and care reforms will not happen.”
Kretschmer also commented on the reform package for statutory health insurance, acknowledging that it contains necessary measures. However, he criticized the approach, saying, “With this, we are only maintaining the status quo and plugging financial leaks, rather than achieving an improvement in our country’s economic competitiveness.” He demanded a forward vision, arguing that simply shrinking or making cuts is not a viable path forward, adding, “Renunciation is not renovation.”
He lamented that this austerity is exactly what is currently happening across Germany, Saxony, Leipzig, Dresden, and even smaller towns. He explained that expenses are merely being adjusted because revenues cannot keep pace with years of stagnation and recession. For the citizens, he warned, this trend carries “dramatic consequences” for essential areas like education, the social sector, and infrastructure.
