Confidential reform meeting in the Chancellery: CDU and SPD discuss pensions and health

At first it is nothing more than a round of discussions: According to a report in the “Bild” newspaper, politicians from the CDU and SPD want to meet in the Chancellery this Tuesday. At the confidential “reform meeting”, which the newspaper wants to know about, the already agreed, partly controversial reform plans in the areas of pensions, care and health will be checked again to see if there are any changes required.

Chancellery Minister Nina Warken (CDU) was there, as were Labor Minister Bärbel Bas (SPD), Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) and Health Minister Carsten Linnemann (CDU). Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD) will be represented by State Secretary Björn Böhning (SPD).

The meeting also serves to prepare for the upcoming coalition committee on October 7th, it is said. Possible points of discussion are pensions. According to the report, the SPD wants to renegotiate the pension compromise found. According to “Bild”, the Social Democrats are striving for longer partial retirement, the extensive retention of mini-jobs and the complete preservation of early retirement after 45 years of contributions.

Meanwhile, only SPD parliamentary group leader Matthias Miersch spoke publicly. He called for more justice in the health system and viewed Chancellor Friedrich Merz's statements as support.

It was “really good” that the Chancellor was addressing the issue of privately and publicly insured people, Miersch said before a meeting of the parliamentary group with a view to Merz’s statements on Monday.

So far, cuts have only been planned in the healthcare system in order to stabilize contributions. “But we haven’t initiated any real reforms yet.” There are many elements of justice in the debate initiated by Merz. The SPD has been campaigning for solidarity-based citizen insurance for many years, emphasized Miersch. “The CDU is probably not there yet, but there could be momentum to get things started structurally, at least to have more justice.”

As an example of questions of justice, Merz pointed out that many people with statutory health insurance apparently see it as unfair to have to wait months for doctor's appointments, unlike those with private insurance. The Chancellor added that the regulations that had been decided on in the health care reform for the statutory health insurance companies wanted to be transferred to private health insurance “with the same effect”. He cited the agreed appointment guarantee for specialists as an example of more fairness, as there is “complete unequal treatment” when making appointments.

The question of justice is also crucial in the upcoming pension reform, emphasized Miersch after the state elections, in which the AfD and the Left won in particular. The question of whether one is entitled to a pension without deductions after 45 years of insurance is an “elementary issue of justice”.

A commission report does not mean that Parliament stops thinking, explained Miersch. However, a future pension package must provide security and make it clear that all professional groups are involved.

In general, reforms should not be perceived by citizens as mere cuts, the SPD politician continued. You have to convey that changes bring added value and more security through more justice. Miersch emphasized that the SPD is in coalition with the Union to address these issues. However, empathy is needed for people who are afraid of reforms. The SPD party leadership had already emphasized that there should be no “business as usual”. The reform plans need to be improved.