Johannes Winkel, chairman of the Young Union party and a member of the CDU, is urging the federal government to moderate the planned pension increase compared to initial projections. He argues that financial flexibility should be maintained to allow for the BAföG (student funding) increase raised as an issue by Jens Spahn, head of the CDU parliamentary group, while also preventing cuts to the parental allowance.
Speaking to “Bild am Sonntag,” Winkel stated: “The increases to pensions, BAföG, and parental allowances were all agreed upon in the coalition contract. It is understandable that these promises are being reviewed during times of tight budgets. What is not understandable is why the savings are not being distributed fairly.” He criticized the situation where the pension increase remains untouched (at 4.2 percent), but the BAföG raise was set to be dropped entirely, and the parental allowance would face a reduction. Winkel suggested that household savings should justly be seen as “an obligation of all generations.”
Winkel specifically proposes to the coalition leadership that pensions be increased by three percent. He notes this amount is above inflation, meaning every recipient would still gain purchasing power. By implementing this lower percentage increase, approximately five billion euros in flexibility could be generated. These funds could then be used to implement “the necessary adjustment of the housing allowance for BAföG.” Furthermore, he demands that measures must also be taken to ensure the parental allowance is not cut. Winkel concluded his appeal to the government: “Please take a step back for the younger generation, dear government.”
