German pension reform clash pits Bas against Merz's 'safety net' plan
German Labor Minister and SPD leader Bärbel Bas has pushed back against recent pension statements by Friedrich Merz (CDU), reminding the chancellor of the coalition's existing agreements. "A decent pension after a lifetime of work is a matter of fairness," Bas told Der Spiegel.
She noted that the federal government had jointly launched a reform commission, which is now working under intense pressure to develop proposals ensuring that the pension system remains stable, equitable, and sustainable in the decades ahead. "That is our standard for the pension system in this country, and people can rely on it," the minister declared.
Bas also recalled an agreement among coalition partners to await the commission's reform proposals before taking action. "I am sticking to that," she said. Merz had stated on Monday that pensions would in future serve only as a "basic safety net."
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