Christian Democratic Union parliamentary leader Thorsten Frei has demanded that Labour Minister Bärbel Bas present a draft pension reform bill this autumn, shutting down any prospect of concessions after state premiers mounted a rebellion over the planned elimination of penalty-free early retirement.
Frei told Welt TV there is no room to renegotiate the expert commission's full package, which would end retirement after 45 contribution years — currently available at age 64.5. Eight state premiers have now spoken out against the cut, including all five eastern German leaders, while the coalition treaty itself states penalty-free retirement after 45 years will remain possible. CDA chairman Dennis Radtke called for reliable transitional rules and a halt to the third tier of mother's pension credits, and economist Martin Werding warned against removing any element from the package.