Chancellor Merz Defies Pension Critics, Links Domestic Policy to Global Security Threats
BERLIN - Chancellor Friedrich Merz forcefully defended his government’s pension policy and signaled a firm commitment to navigating broader geopolitical challenges, directly addressing internal dissent within his own party and escalating tensions with Russia. Speaking today, Merz rebuked calls for deeper cuts to the pension system, framing such proposals as irresponsible and dangerously shortsighted given the escalating global instability.
The Chancellor’s remarks come amid growing pressure from within the CDU, especially from younger members who advocate for more aggressive reforms to Germany’s retirement system. This dispute centers on the government’s decision to maintain the current pension level until 2031 - a compromise with the SPD that extends the current system two years beyond the CDU’s initial preference, but seven years less then the SPD desired. Merz indicated a willingness to consider a comprehensive overhaul of the pension system after 2031, possibly including a revised calculation formula, but insisted now is not the time for radical change.
Merz directly referenced past criticism, repeating the phrase “Who is actually offering less?” - the same wording that drew sharp rebuke at a recent Junge Union convention – as a pointed challenge to those advocating for further reductions. He simultaneously highlighted a key policy win, the introduction of an “Aktivrente” (active retirement) scheme, originally proposed by the CDU during the election campaign, which will be included in the upcoming pension package.Merz emphasized this is “not a tax gift, but the entry point to a longer working life.”
Shifting focus to the broader geopolitical landscape,Merz warned that Germany has grown accustomed to eight decades of peace and freedom,an era he believes is now over. He cited the rise of China, former President Trump’s trade policies, and, most substantially, Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine – characterizing the latter as “military violence every day” – as evidence of a fundamentally altered global security surroundings.
“If we lose sight of what is at stake now, our children and grandchildren will make bitter accusations against us,” Merz cautioned, a message seemingly directed at internal critics within the CDU. He underscored his determination to prioritize these larger challenges, stating unequivocally, “Nothing and no one will prevent me from making the right decisions in difficult times” – including confronting extremism from both the left and right. The Chancellor’s strong stance signals a willingness to withstand internal opposition to maintain focus on what he views as Germany’s most pressing priorities: safeguarding national security and responsible economic stewardship.
