The head of the CDU's social wing has appealed to Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz to stop unsettling citizens in debates about planned social reforms. "We must stop scaring people," said Dennis Radtke, chairman of the Christian Democratic Workers' Association, to the newspapers of the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland on Thursday.
"Yes to changes, but no to blanket statements that don't solve any problems but create several new ones," Radtke said, referring to Merz's statement that statutory pension insurance alone will at most still provide basic security for old age. Current pensioners are not affected and not meant, but still feel addressed and are worried, Radtke explained.
"Someone who currently pays 1,500 euros monthly into pension insurance will be grateful if that is only supposed to be a basis in the future." Before coalition disputes arise again, the proposals from the pension commission must be awaited. "The AfD can't stop laughing at these debates," Radtke said.
He wishes the Federal Chancellor and CDU leader would make clear at the CDA federal congress on Saturday in Marburg: "Reforms must happen, changes must take place, but with the clear objective: We want to maintain a capable welfare state."
The CDA is not one that always just says no. "Our message will be that we need change, but the burden distribution must be fair and just." Savings cannot only be offloaded onto small and middle incomes. "The wealthy must also contribute."
Merz had said at a banking association event on Monday that pensions could in the future be "at most still the basic security for old age." This met with partly sharp criticism, particularly from coalition partner SPD. The pension commission appointed by the government plans to present its reform recommendations on June 30.
Germany's largest trade union, IG Metall, also sharply criticized Merz. His statements about the future of pensions are "irresponsible," IG Metall chief Christiane Benner told the Süddeutsche Zeitung on Thursday. "We do not accept cuts to statutory pensions," Benner said.
"Many millions of workers depend on pensions." The unions are in favor of structural reforms. "But we are against making employees poorer." Benner announced demonstrations if the federal government introduces certain impositions.
"There are no-gos that we would respond to with protests," Benner said. "If the government cuts statutory pensions, all hell will break loose." "If there are waiting days for sick leave, then the streets will be full." Such a waiting day, on which sick-reported employees would no longer receive wages, has been discussed for some time.
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