The proposal for a special levy targeting high-earning pensioners has faced further resistance, with the Social Democratic Party (SPD) now rejecting the idea following similar opposition from the conservative Union faction. SPD parliamentarian Bernd Rützel, the party’s rapporteur for labor and social affairs, voiced his concerns in an interview with the Tagesspiegel newspaper.
Rützel argued that the proposed levy risked creating division, pitting older and younger generations against each other. He emphasized the importance of stability for retirees, stating that pensions represent an earned insurance benefit accrued through decades of contributions, rather than a social welfare provision. “Those entering retirement must be able to rely on the fact that no one will come along and demand a 10 percent deduction” he explained.
The ruling coalition, bound by agreement to present reform proposals through an expert commission by the middle of the legislative period, is seeking broader perspectives on the future of the pension system. Rützel echoed this focus, pointing to the upcoming commission as the appropriate forum for debating potential reforms and addressing issues of financial sustainability and fairness. He characterized the proposed levy as a distraction – “likely just a summer lull topic”.
