German Lawmakers Agree on Expanded Support for Victims of SED Regime

A bipartisan bill proposes increased pensions, a hardship fund, and simplified claims processes for former DDR political prisoners and persecuted individuals.

The Bundestag is set to vote next week on a bipartisan bill to improve financial and social support for victims of the former East German SED regime.
The proposed law includes a nationwide hardship fund with €1 million in government funding and €6 million pledged by Ikea, acknowledging its use of DDR prison labor in the 1980s.
Monthly pensions for victims, renamed 'Ehrenpension,' are expected to rise from €330 to €400 and will no longer be tied to financial need, with annual automatic adjustments.
Compensation for forcibly resettled individuals will increase from €1,500 to €7,500, and recognition of health damages linked to political persecution will be eased.
Lawmakers emphasized urgency due to the aging population of eligible victims, calling the reform a vital step in addressing the injustices of the SED dictatorship.