Sven Schulze, the Prime Minister of Saxony-Anhalt (CDU), has called upon the federal government to ensure that the federal states are closely involved in the planning of social reforms, specifically advocating for special consideration for the eastern part of the country. During a discussion with the “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland” he expressed concern about an extended period of indecision, emphasizing the urgent need for swift action. He cautioned against the final outcome being limited only to the most basic common ground.
Schulze noted that the eastern states are structured differently in many areas. For instance, the majority of pensioners in Saxony-Anhalt rely solely on state pensions, and those set to retire in the coming years cannot currently build private provisions. He stressed that the federal government must account for this in its reforms. Furthermore, he pointed out that Saxony-Anhalt and other eastern states face distinct demographic challenges. As the oldest federal state, the average age there is 48 years, compared to a national average of 44 years. This demographic reality creates different challenges within the healthcare and care sectors, which the federal government must also consider.
Regarding the discussion about a potential increase in the value-added tax (VAT) across Germany, Schulze urged the federal government to pay particular attention to the east. He highlighted that the average salary in their region is several hundred euros lower than in West Germany, and any policy should not unduly burden the middle class. The CDU politician insisted that a coordinated process, involving the states, is necessary, asserting, “Because we must have a say in matters that need to be discussed, for example, in the Bundesrat”.
