As the Pension Commission’s report on future reforms is nearing publication, Left Party Member of the Bundestag and candidate for Co-Party Chairman, Luigi Pantisano, is demanding the full integration of all professional groups into the statutory pension insurance system.
Speaking to the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung” (NOZ), Pantisano criticized the current system, arguing that it is unacceptable for members of parliament and civil servants to exempt themselves from the statutory pension fund, yet subsequently enjoy higher pension claims than regular employees who have worked for over three decades. He noted that such privileges have justly stirred anger among hard-working citizens.
While the federal government plans comprehensive reforms to stabilize the pension provision, the core of Pantisano’s demand is a universal contribution structure. He vehemently opposes any pension cuts, stating that the politicians themselves are becoming overly expensive for Germany. Citing his own experience of two increases in salary during his first 15 months as an MP, he urged the discontinuation of the current fragmented system. Instead, everyone-including politicians, civil servants, and self-employed individuals-must contribute to a single, solidarity-based pension fund.
