Brandenburg's State Premier Dietmar Woidke (SPD) Highlights East German Peculiarities in Pension Debate
Brandenburg's retirees face financial strain as pensions lag behind rising costs
Potsdam (dpa) – Brandenburg's state premier, Dietmar Woidke, has rejected the concept of a statutory pension as merely a "basic income support" system, as proposed by Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU). "A large share of East Germans—despite often working 45 years or more—simply never had the opportunity to build additional retirement provisions," the SPD politician told the German Press Agency in response to a query. Due to these unique circumstances, he explained, Brandenburg's pensioners rely overwhelmingly on the state pension.
Woidke insisted this reality must be taken into account in the debate. "After a lifetime of work, these people deserve a decent pension that secures their standard of living in the long term. Anything less would be unjust."
Pension as Just "Basic Income Support"?
On Monday, Chancellor Merz told the Association of German Banks that "the statutory pension system will, at best, only provide basic income support in old age." The CDU leader emphasized the need for supplementary private pensions. His remarks drew sharp criticism from other parties, with dissent even emerging within the CDU.
What the Statistics Show
According to the State Chancellery, more than 820,000 people in Brandenburg receive their primary retirement income from the state pension. Data from the 2023 Statistical Office indicates that men receive an average of €1,424 per month, while women receive €1,231—despite most having worked for over 45 years.
After deducting health and long-term care insurance contributions, these pensioners are left with €1,253 (men) and €1,083 (women) per month before any further deductions. Meanwhile, they face the same rising costs as everyone else.
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