The three eastern state premiers of Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia oppose the elimination of pensions after 45 years of contributions and, by extension, a significant portion of the planned reforms. “It’s especially important in the East: Anyone who has paid into the system for 45 years must be able to retire without any reductions,” said Thuringia’s Minister President Mario Voigt (CDU) on the sidelines of a joint meeting with his counterparts from Saxony-Anhalt and Saxony in Braunsbedra.
Twelve votes in the Bundesrat
In a joint position paper, the three CDU state premiers describe the planned abolition of the pension after 45 years of contributions as the most far-reaching aspect of the proposed pension reform package for their three states. “Anyone who has paid into the system for 45 years has paid enough. We will not abandon this principle,” they write in the paper. Voigt commented: “After all, we weren’t elected to make a splash in Berlin, but to achieve the best for the people in our state.” The three heads of government are calling for transition periods that take into account the employment histories of people in eastern Germany. “For those nearing retirement age, this therefore requires long-term protection of legitimate expectations and a hardship provision that recognizes physically demanding occupations and very long contribution periods,” the paper states.
Saxony’s Minister President Michael Kretschmer said in Braunsbedra: “This is our shared position.” He also pointed out that the three states collectively hold twelve votes in the Bundesrat. Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania’s Minister-President Manuela Schwesig (SPD) had also sharply criticized the plans to abolish the pension after 45 years of contributions in the past.
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