Sven Schulze, the Minister-President of Saxony-Anhalt and a CDU member, defended his criticism regarding the planned changes to the retirement age set at 63, arguing that his stance is legitimate and aligns with the existing coalition contract. While Schulze welcomed the fact that a reform package is on the table, he stated in an interview with “Bild” that true progress can only be achieved by actively debating alternatives and proposing different methods of implementation, asserting that this is entirely justifiable.
According to Schulze, the expert commission provided its suggestions, but the ultimate political decision is not expected until after the summer recess, which explains why he is offering his critique now.
Furthermore, Schulze urged the federal government to adhere to its own commitments. He pointed out that in Saxony-Anhalt, approximately 36 percent of people who retired in 2025 had to accept reduced benefits (penalties) because they could not meet the standard retirement age. He also reminded listeners that maintaining the requirement of 45 working years is stipulated within the coalition agreement signed by the CDU, CSU, and SPD.
