CDU State Premiers from Eastern Germany Call on the Federal Government to Show Consideration

What the state leaders are demanding from the federal government

The statement calls on the federal government not to abolish the full pension after 45 years of contributions—as recommended by the Pension Commission. “Anyone who has paid into the system for 45 years has paid enough. We will not abandon this principle.” Company pensions are rare in eastern Germany, and many East Germans have not been able to make sufficient private provisions for retirement in recent decades; therefore, the statutory pension is often the only pillar of retirement security. “Any change in the statutory system therefore has an almost unmitigated impact on us,” the state premiers said.

They also called on the federal government to find a way to ensure that long-term care remains affordable in the future, even in areas where retirement incomes are low. However, planned changes would increase the out-of-pocket costs. “We will not agree to this approach,” they stated. Instead, they said, a solution must be found that takes individual financial capacity into account. “It is crucial that the financial burden be limited and predictable for those affected,” the state premiers said.