Overview
- Eighteen young CDU/CSU lawmakers say they will not back the Rentenpaket, putting the coalition’s narrow majority at risk as Chancellor Friedrich Merz rules out a confidence vote.
- The draft would fix the pension level at 48% until 2031 and add Mütterrente, Frühstartrente and Aktivrente, while critics contest a clause that keeps the level about one point higher after 2031.
- Twenty-two economists publicly urge withdrawal of the package, and employer chief Rainer Dulger backs a halt, warning of roughly €200 billion in costs over 15 years and calling for a higher retirement age.
- An IW study reports 40.6–41% of German state spending goes to social protection, slightly above Nordic shares by that metric, though Nordic countries still lead when measured against GDP.
- Public sentiment is mixed: a Forsa/RTL poll finds about 70% willing to commit roughly €110 billion after 2031 to stabilize pensions, while an INSA survey for Nius shows 45% view the package negatively; crucial meetings are slated for Wednesday and Thursday.