Pension Dispute: Friedrich Merz Defends Pensionโข Reform Draft Bill Amidst Internal Party Opposition
Berlin, Germany – November 16, 2025 – Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader Friedrich Merz is standing firm on hisโ proposed draft bill for pension reform,โ despite growing dissent within his own party, especially from teh Young Union (Junge Union). Merz addressed the Junge Union’s Deutschlandtag today, warning โagainst โฃa “race to the bottom” in pension policy and reiterating the โขnecessity of hisโ plan to secure the long-term stability of โขGermany’s retirement system.
The escalating dispute centers on the future of Germany’s statutory retirement age and contribution rates. Merz’s draft bill aimsโ to address the demographic challenges facing โthe pension system – a shrinking โขworkforce supporting โคa growing โnumber of โคretirees – thru a combination of measures, including a gradual increase in the entry age and potential adjustments to โcontribution levels. This โapproach has sparked criticism from โคthe Junge Union, who fear it โคcould disproportionately impact younger generations entering theโฃ workforce. โฃThe debate underscores a basic tension within the CDU regarding the โฃbalance between fiscal duty and โคsocial equity.
At the Deutschlandtag, Merz cautioned the Junge Union against engaging in an “undercutting competition” regarding pension proposals, signaling his determination to push forward with his plan. He emphasized the urgency of addressing the pension system’s financial vulnerabilities, warning that inaction wouldโค jeopardize the future of Germany’s social security net. โข
Recent reporting by Zeit Online highlights the internal divisions,with articles detailing the โฃcontentious debate surrounding the proposed reforms. Oneโค article, published November 16, 2025, focuses on the broader “pension dispute,” while another, also from โข Zeit Online on theโฃ same โฃdate, frames โขthe disagreement as a challenge to Merz’s leadership, โคwith the headline “Not like that, friends!” โคthe articles indicate that the Junge Union โis advocating for alternative solutions that prioritize affordability for younger workers, possibly throughโ different mechanisms for revenue generation or benefit adjustments.
