Overview

• DIW president Marcel Fratzscher proposed a compulsory social year for all retirees in a Spiegel interview to bolster intergenerational solidarity and support areas including defense.
• VdK president Verena Bentele countered that older people already shoulder significant unpaid care and volunteer work and criticized narratives portraying retirees as idle.
• Joachim Lautensack of the Baden-Württemberg seniors’ association called the idea “dümmlich” and pointed to figures showing about 44% of 65–74-year-olds engage in volunteer activities.
• SoVD chief Michaela Engelmeier and DGB board member Anja Piel denounced the plan as disrespectful, with the DGB saying retirees have earned their rest and warning against pitting generations against each other.
• Fratzscher linked his proposal to ongoing debates over conscription and a new generational contract, arguing the Bundeswehr could benefit from retirees’ technical skills.