Berlin. The Left Party has sharply criticized a proposal by Union parliamentary group leader Jens Spahn to stop counting university study periods toward future pension calculations. "Studying must not become a pension trap," Left Party co-leader Ines Schwerdtner told the Rheinische Post (Thursday edition).
Left Party slams Spahn's pension plan as threat to students' future security
"Spahn's proposal risks worsening old-age poverty in the future. Instead of cutting pension entitlements, we must stabilize the statutory pension system and ensure fair funding. A long working life must not end in poverty, and years spent in education are not wasted time—they are investments in our shared future," she said.
Spahn had suggested excluding study periods from the calculation of insurance contributions for pension purposes. This would make it harder for university graduates to meet the required 35 years of contributions needed to qualify for a full state pension.
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