Markus Söder, the Minister-President of Bavaria and head of the CSU party, has urged for an acceleration of current reforms. Speaking to “Bild am Sonntag,” Söder stated that the outcome in Saxony-Anhalt makes it “absolutely clear” that Berlin needs to significantly step up its efforts. He criticized previous results as “too meager, insufficient,” arguing that given the “greatest wake-up call election in German history,” concrete consequences must be drawn from it.
Simultaneously, Söder pushed for the compensation of cold progression and firmly rejected any weakening of already agreed-upon measures. When asked if he would lobby for the inclusion of inflation compensation in the tax schedule in 2027, Söder replied in the affirmative. He further stressed the need to examine how energy prices could be reduced if current trends continue, claiming that society is spending too much money on “incorrect social expenditures.” He pressed Chancellor Bas to finally move forward with the legislative proposals so that progress is made quickly, rather than being stalled by eternal bureaucratic red tape.
The CSU politician also insisted on the implementation of the planned pension reform. While acknowledging that exceptions or transition periods can be created, as they have been with the age 63 retirement option, Söder dismissed these as mere “legislative technicalities.” He maintained that the core issue remains clear: people in Germany must work longer as generations become older and fewer young people are available. Therefore, the proposal cannot be compromised.
Finally, concerning the already decided requirement for mandatory notice of sick leave from day one, the Bavarian Minister-President called upon the federal government for consistency and reliability. He questioned the mixed messages, asking, “We have already decided all of this. So, what exactly is this back and forth about?”
