Pension: Senioren-Union declares reform a matter of fate for the coalition

Hubert Hüppe, chairman of the Senioren-Union, declared that pension reform is a decisive factor for the future of the current governing coalition. He expressed strong confidence that the reform's outcome will significantly influence the coalition's fate.

“

The pension reform will also decide on the fate of this coalition, I am quite sure of that.

Hüppe indicated that seniors expect reforms and are willing to accept limitations for the sake of fairness. He stressed that social reforms must include all systems, such as civil servant pensions, requiring those with greater means to bear a larger share of the burden. "Then we, as the Senioren-Union, will also accept what the coalition plans, perhaps grudgingly," he stated.

“

This is only possible if everyone is included in the social reforms, including the pensions of civil servants and other benefit systems.

Addressing the question of working longer, Hüppe suggested that the solution lies not in working less but in working more. However, he shifted the focus to younger generations, proposing that school and study periods should be shortened. This, he argued, would enable young people to enter the workforce and begin contributing to social systems earlier.

“

Then we, as the Senioren-Union, will also accept what the coalition plans, perhaps grudgingly.

"This doesn't necessarily mean at the end of one's working life, but at the beginning," Hüppe explained. While not advocating for a return to starting work at 14 as in his youth, he believes entry into the workforce should occur much sooner than the current norm of around 30.

“

This means for me not necessarily at the end of working life, but at the beginning.