Nina Warken, the CDU Chancellery Chief, expressed support for Federal Health Minister Carsten Linnemann’s stance against reducing the pension entitlements of family caregivers. Speaking during the “Frühstart” program on RTL and ntv, she noted that if Linnemann argues against cutting aid in the pension insurance system, then austerity measures must be implemented elsewhere. “Setting the priority like that, he is indeed making a valid point,” Warken said.
She emphasized that the proposed cuts, which were originally suggested for budgetary reasons, are undesirable, especially since the government has been providing these benefits for several years. Warken stressed the importance of supporting caregivers, stating that they “are actually a valuable asset” (“ein Pfund das wir haben”) and that their assistance significantly alleviates the pressure on the system.
Despite this recognition, the CDU politician highlighted a severe financial situation facing the care insurance fund, noting a major deficit of up to eight billion euros is projected for the coming year, a gap that needs to be closed. She noted that there are few options for closing this massive hole.
Currently, a legislative draft is being reviewed following several weeks of discussions. Warken confirmed that the government must find a solution to ensure stable contributions to the care insurance. This effort must be balanced, as continuous increases in labor ancillary costs would threaten the country’s overall competitiveness. The focus now is on determining how the package can be restructured so that the overall payment level remains high.
