Overview
- Eighteen young Union MPs and the Junge Union say they will withhold support for the pension package, imperiling a working majority reported at about 12 votes.
- After a tense weekend at the JU gathering, Merz offered a non‑binding "Begleittext" on post‑2031 reforms and an accelerated pension commission, but he now rejects a delay and rules out a minority government.
- SPD leaders insist the law will not be reopened and defend keeping the 48 percent rentenhaltelinie through 2031, with Dagmar Schmidt saying the party will not back any plan that lowers the level thereafter.
- The bundle includes the Aktivrente and an expansion of the Mütterrente, and to start in 2026 it would need Bundestag passage in December and Bundesrat approval, which CSU leader Markus Söder supports without conceding changes.
- Estimated extra costs of roughly €118–120 billion from 2031 to 2040 fuel the youth revolt, leaving Jens Spahn to secure votes as internal CDU voices float postponement and the outcome ahead of the December vote remains unresolved.