An der Rentenreform könnte die Koalition zerbrechen

#reitztopic #pensions #coalition The SPD sees a lot of potential for conflict in the pension proposal. However, a "farmer's trick" could make resistance within their own ranks more difficult. The pension commission recommends sweeping changes: The retirement age should be linked to life expectancy, and the early retirement option without deductions after 45 years of contributions should be abolished. It is precisely on these two points that the SPD has consistently resisted. For FOCUS online's chief correspondent, Ulrich Reitz, the way the report came about is particularly noteworthy. "That was a masterpiece by Mr. Miersch and Mr. Spahn," he says in the FOCUS online pensions discussion. Representatives from different political camps agreed to the proposals in the commission. Anyone criticizing now must also be taking on their own party members. Reitz even sees this as an opportunity for the architects of the commission: "If things go well, the SPD's chancellor candidate will be Bärbel Bas and the CDU/CSU's chancellor candidate will be Jens Spahn." The planned abolition of early retirement without deductions is likely to be particularly controversial. For years, it was justified, among other things, by citing the notorious roofer, who performs particularly strenuous physical labor. Pension expert Philine Lietzmann, however, considers the regulation misguided. "The symbolic image was the worker on the assembly line in the automotive industry. They earned a lot and could therefore afford to retire early." Many tradespeople with low incomes, on the other hand, could not afford to retire early. Those who often benefited were employees with comparatively good incomes. Reitz therefore thinks little of the political reference to roofers and other physically demanding professions. "The politicians' convenient example, the roofer lie, was always fake." Whether the proposals will actually become law is currently uncertain. Lietzmann points out that the report was only passed by a majority vote. "There are definitely still loopholes for the SPD to say, 'No, we don't support that.'" Furthermore, the SPD has a labor minister in Bärbel Bas, who has so far stood for many positions that contradict the commission's recommendations. "Ms. Bas actually strongly advocates the opposite of much of what's in there." Reitz nevertheless sees a strategic advantage for the minister in dealing with critics from within her own party. Bas, for example, has described the commission's document as a "total work of art." A clever ploy, according to Reitz. "You don't start editing Schiller and repainting Picasso. It's a total work of art. The key is to ensure that no single individual starts tinkering with it." The minister has already preempted criticism from within her own party. Anyone who rejects the proposals must present a better solution. Complaining alone is no longer enough. Despite everything, Reitz believes the government's continued existence is at stake: "Could it fail? Of course. Then this coalition is finished."