Manuela Schwesig, the Minister-President of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and a member of the SPD, has sharply criticized plans proposed by Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) to eliminate the penalty-free retirement option for those who have paid contributions for 45 years.
“The Chancellor cannot decide on the pension reform alone. And that is a good thing,” Schwesig told the “Rheinische Post” (Thursday edition). “I recommend that he engages in dialogue with the state prime ministers about this matter.”
According to Schwesig, the principle of fairness in benefits is crucial, and this includes considering the total years of contribution. She argued that individuals who started working at age 16 or 18, who have worked and paid into the pension fund throughout their lives, should still be able to retire two years earlier and without deductions. Currently, this is possible at 64.5 years old, but the proposed reform would change this to 65.
The SPD politician further stated that this reform would disproportionately affect the strongest contributors in society-precisely those who have worked their entire lives. Referencing the latest ZDF political barometer, she noted that 75 percent of Germans oppose the abolition of the pension for those with long contribution records. “The Chancellor would be wise to put this proposal aside,” Schwesig concluded.
The plans had originated when Chancellor Merz emphasized following the cabinet meeting in Neuhardenberg that he intends to stick to the coalition agreements regarding the removal of the penalty-free pension for those with 45 years of contributions.
