A senior figure within the Free Democratic Party (FDP) is advocating for a significant shift in Germany’s pension system, proposing that young, lower-income individuals be excluded from the standard state pension scheme. Christian Dürr, the party’s chairman, argues that allowing these individuals to invest their pension contributions into capital-based systems would ultimately provide them with a more secure and sufficient retirement income, reducing their reliance on state support.
Speaking to the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung”, Dürr acknowledged that his proposal would likely draw considerable criticism. He framed the initiative as a means of addressing a perceived inequity within the current system, where those earning lower salaries may find their earned pensions inadequate for a comfortable retirement. He characterized a shift towards capital-based retirement planning as a potentially transformative change for young people.
The proposal has sparked debate within the German political landscape. Dürr sharply criticized a recent proposal by Labor Minister Bärbel Bas (SPD) to include freelancers and civil servants into the general pension insurance. He maintained that this specific suggestion would not improve the system’s long-term viability or address its demographic challenges.
