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Left Party abstains on pension reform, slams Europe’s lagging standards

Why did Germany’s Left Party refuse to back pension reforms? Their leader calls current levels a ‘disgrace’—and Europe’s standards aren’t helping.

, and Administrator

2025 December 11 . 3:27 AM

1 min read

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Left Party abstains on pension reform, slams Europe’s lagging standards

The Left Party’s faction in parliament abstained during Friday’s vote on the pension reform package. Dietmar Bartsch, a leading figure in the party, later explained the decision was based on the policy’s content rather than political strategy. He also criticised the CDU/CSU’s Young Group for their handling of the debate.

Bartsch made it clear that his abstention was not about protecting coalition talks or shielding CDU leader Friedrich Merz. Instead, he focused on the impact the reforms would have on pensioners. He called the current pension levels—ten points below the European average—'outrageous' and dismissed the argument over reducing the pension level from 48% to 47% by 2031 as 'ridiculous'.

The pension reform vote has highlighted divisions over future support for retirees. Bartsch’s remarks underscore concerns about pension levels falling behind European standards. The Left Party’s abstention now leaves the final shape of the reforms in the hands of other parliamentary groups.