Overview

• Marcel Fratzscher told Süddeutsche Zeitung he wants a surcharge on wealthier older Germans to help finance pensions, health care and long-term care, coupled with greater support for low-income retirees.
• He also proposes a compulsory social year for retirees and argues babyboomers bear considerable responsibility for today’s strains, citing the shift from six workers per retiree in the 1960s to about two today.
• Fratzscher criticizes the government’s use of an infrastructure special fund to patch budget gaps and says higher defense spending should be financed from the regular budget.
• CDU parliamentary manager Steffen Bilger calls for savings across ministries, notes agreed staff cuts outside defense and interior, and rejects tax hikes under the coalition agreement.
• The proposals remain subject to political debate, with Bundestag budget deliberations ahead and no legislative action announced.