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Monday, August 3Monday, August 3
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz faces growing opposition within his own party and the coalition over plans to abolish the early retirement option known as the "Rente mit 63," which allows workers to retire without penalties after 45 years of contributions.
Three CDU state premiers from eastern Germany—Sven Schulze of Saxony-Anhalt, along with two others—have publicly demanded the retention of the abschlagsfreie Rente after 45 contribution years, arguing it fails to account for the unique employment histories of East German workers. Schulze told Welt TV he had discussed the issue with the chancellor’s office and insisted differing views within the party were legitimate. “It’s not about undermining authority. Our goal is not to fall into the chancellor’s back,” he said .
Support for preserving the rule has also emerged from the SPD. Mecklenburg-Vorpommern’s Premier Manuela Schwesig (SPD) argued the commission had not adequately considered East German biographies, noting that 29.9 percent of East German women used the option in 2025, compared to 24.8 percent in the West. Saarländ’s Premier Anke Rehlinger (SPD) stated abolishing it would contradict “respect for people’s life achievements” . Bremen’s Mayor Andreas Bovenschulte (SPD) proposed retaining the rule and financing it through higher wealth taxes or ending capital income tax privileges .
The government-appointed pension commission had recommended abolishing the early retirement option, and Labor Minister Bärbel Bas (SPD) previously called the 33 proposals a “Gesamtkunstwerk” that should not be cherry-picked. However, 28.3 percent of all new retirees used the abschlagsfreie Rente in 2025, with 36 percent of East German men and 29.9 percent of East German women taking advantage, according to Deutsche Rentenversicherung data . Johannes Geyer of the DIW Berlin noted that nearly all eligible workers use the option, citing higher female employment rates in the East as a contributing factor.
Merz had previously framed the commission’s recommendations as critical for Germany’s social state and economic competitiveness. The pushback from eastern state leaders and SPD figures now threatens the reform’s implementation, with Schulze dismissing cost concerns, stating, “It’s about people who have worked hard all their lives” . Berlin’s SPD chief Steffen Krach has also voiced clear support for retaining the rule .
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Radikale Föderalismus-Abmagerungskur statt gröscherlsparmeisterlicher Aktionen [premium] Neun Bundesländer sind eventuell nicht immer lieb, aber stets teuer, nämlich rund 80 bis 85 Millionen Euro für Landesregierungen und Landtage.
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adevarul · about 1 hour ago
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faz · about 1 hour ago
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sueddeutsche · about 1 hour ago
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swissinfo · about 1 hour ago
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baltic times · about 1 hour ago
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la libre · about 1 hour ago
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welt.de · about 1 hour ago
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handelsblatt · about 1 hour ago
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faz · about 1 hour ago
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axios · about 1 hour ago
Lithuania cuts minimum down payment for some first-time homebuyers Lithuanias central bank has lowered the minimum down payment requirement for eligible first-time homebuyers to 10 from 15 under updated responsible lending rules that took effect Saturday.
lrt · about 1 hour ago
„Man sollte nicht nur nach Lebenserwartung gehen Manuela Schwesig (SPD), Ministerpräsidentin von Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, kritisiert die geplante Abschaffung der abschlagsfreien Rente nach 45 Versicherungsjahren und fordert mehr Gerechtigkeit: „Leistung muss sich lohnen.
welt.de · about 2 hours ago
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welt.de · about 2 hours ago
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tagesspiegel · about 2 hours ago
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handelsblatt · about 2 hours ago
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handelsblatt · about 2 hours ago
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handelsblatt · about 2 hours ago
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die zeit · about 2 hours ago
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faz · about 2 hours ago
Trump overhaul could gut Head Start preschool standards and leave states to set rules Head Start serves more than half a million low-income babies, toddlers and preschoolers nationwide
independent · about 2 hours ago
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cphpost · about 2 hours ago
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cphpost · about 2 hours ago
Tax refund day arrives for more than two million The money may not appear in accounts until later on Monday.
yle.fi · about 2 hours ago
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the next web · about 2 hours ago
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sarajevo times · about 2 hours ago
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croatia week · about 2 hours ago
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lsm latvia · about 2 hours ago
Empresa de Rui Costa tem encargos vencidos de 660 mil euros Em termos totais, e se somarmos o capital, juros de mora e encargos, a empresa de Rui Costa deve ao Banco Montepio um valor que supera os 15 milhões de euros
observador · about 2 hours ago