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Top Economists Urge Withdrawal of Germany's Pension Package as Coalition Rift Threatens Majority

The appeal lands with the government short of a sure Bundestag majority without 18 dissenting Union MPs.

Overview

  • Twenty-two leading economists issued a public call to scrap the cabinet-approved plan, warning of severe fiscal risks and urging work on a sustainable reform via the upcoming Rentenkommission.
  • Signatories include Jörg Rocholl, Clemens Fuest, Monika Schnitzer, Veronika Grimm and Martin Werding, who argue the rentenniveau guarantee, expanded Mütterrente, Aktivrente and Frühstartrente would strain public finances.
  • The SPD insists on passing the agreed draft without changes, while the Greens say they will vote no and have proposed an alternative that maintains a 48% level and phases down the “Rente mit 63” from 2030.
  • The Junge Gruppe of 18 Union MPs continues to threaten withholding votes over long-term costs, Jens Spahn says the draft is covered by the coalition agreement, and Markus Söder warns against a confidence vote or talk of a minority government.
  • The Deutsche Rentenversicherung confirms administrative changes from December 2025—including ending cash payouts and recalculating a disability supplement with potential 17‑month retroactive payments—and projects about a 3.73% pension rise from July 2026.