Overview

• At a Berlin event, DIW president Marcel Fratzscher defended a social year for all retirees, saying he received around 2,000 emails and accusing many critics of complete reality denial.
• Climate activist Luisa Neubauer backed the idea on stage, presenting it as a chance to renew intergenerational contact and responsibility.
• Federal family minister Karin Prien called the proposal a completely wrong approach, while the SoVD and the DGB condemned compulsion as disrespectful or divisive.
• Analysts highlighted practical and fiscal flaws: Oliver Stettes argued the measure would not aid the pension fund, and Martin Werding urged longer formal employment instead.
• The DIW’s separate Boomer‑Soli would levy high age‑incomes in the top fifth to bolster low pensions, even as Stefan Kooths presses for clearer reform signals and a higher effective retirement age.