Johannes Winkel, the new deputy leader of the Union parliamentary group for Labor and Social Affairs, has called for the complete implementation of the pension package agreed upon between the Union and the SPD. Winkel told the “Rheinische Post” that the pension reform was proposed unanimously by the Commission, which included the various parliamentary groups, and notably agreed upon by Chancellor and Minister Bas. Adhering to the necessity of relying on consensus within a governing coalition, the head of the Young Union characterized the reform as socially just.
Winkel emphasized that the concept of the “Pension at 63” must be returned to its original underlying principle: protecting individuals who perform physically arduous work. Winkel, who took office as the deputy group leader on Tuesday, noted that parts of the SPD are questioning the abolition of the pension for those who have been insured for a particularly long period.
He further pointed out that according to the coalition agreement, aside from the phasing out of the Pension at 63, there will be a new, penalty-free protective pension available to people who are unable to work due to health reasons, provided they have worked for 45 years.
