Sven Schulze, the Minister-President of Saxony-Anhalt (CDU), has issued strong criticism regarding statements made by Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz concerning pension reform. Schulze noted that in East Germany, a pension is not merely a basic safety net, but often the sole means of securing a dignified life in retirement.
The Minister-President emphasized that a stable and adequate pension is “existentially important” for the residents and critical for maintaining “social peace” across the region. Consequently, he delivered a clear demand to the pension commission: they must not only acknowledge the specific situation in Saxony-Anhalt and other eastern states, but they must also incorporate this unique context into any of their proposals.
Schulze pointed out several economic factors that complicate the situation compared to western states. He highlighted that significantly fewer people in the new federal states rely on Betriebsrente (company pensions). Furthermore, these residents often lack the funds necessary to contribute to private retirement savings. The lack of personal wealth, real estate, and expected inheritances further compounds the risk of old-age poverty.
In addition to economic concerns, Schulze drew attention to the demographic profile of his federal state. He stated that Saxony-Anhalt has a particularly large population segment, pointing out that the average age there, at approximately 48 years, is about 3.5 years higher than the federal average.
