Steffen Bilger, the parliamentary managing director of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, expressed concern regarding the increasing financial burden on contributors due to the planned care reform. According to Bilger speaking to RTL and ntv, the goal is to maintain stable contribution levels. He emphasized that the reforms are making working in Germany more expensive. At the same time, Bilger stated that it is not sustainable to continuously pump more money from the federal budget into social security systems. Therefore, achieving savings must be part of the healthcare and care reform. He noted, “The details still need to be worked out. The costs in the care sector are exploding”.
Similarly to Markus Söder, the Bavarian Minister-President (CSU), Bilger intends to introduce the planned reforms in a large package before the parliamentary summer recess. Bilger mentioned that the results of the pension commission are expected, alongside findings from a social state reform. Additionally, a tax reform is planned. He indicated that the healthcare reform is the most advanced of these initiatives. It has been passed by the cabinet and is currently undergoing debate in the Bundestag. “We definitely need to get the healthcare reform through the Bundestag before the summer recess. However, we also have time pressure with the other topics”.
