Welfare state: Merz sees no electoral chances for the CDU in the federal government without reforms

Bonn. According to CDU leader Friedrich Merz, far-reaching social reforms are the prerequisite for his party's future electoral success in the federal government.

“If we have not managed to demonstrate by the next federal election that our economy can grow sustainably again, if we have not managed to demonstrate by the next federal election that our social security systems have been reformed in a future-proof and sustainable manner, then we have no chance at the next federal election,” said the Chancellor at the Germany Day of the Junge Union, the party’s junior members, in Bonn. It is therefore important to complete the reform process soon, said Merz.

The Chancellor reiterated that the cabinet should make a decision on pension reform this year. “I would like us to implement the Pension Commission’s reform proposals as they are on the table.” The Pension Commission's proposal also calls for the abolition of the zero-deduction pension after 45 years of insurance, also known as the pension at 63. There has been resistance to this in the SPD for a long time. However, the three East German CDU Prime Ministers Sven Schulze (Saxony-Anhalt), Michael Kretschmer (Saxony) and Mario Voigt (Thuringia) also opposed the plans.

With regard to the reforms, Merz admitted: “They are stirring up the country, they are stirring up our party.” But only after its completion will there be more peace again. "But we have to take this path until then. This applies to changes in statutory health insurance, in care, in the labor market." Despite resistance, he wants to stick to the course: “Election results don’t change the need for change.”