Voigt opposes increasing the retirement age
Mario Voigt, the Minister President of Thuringia, has expressed his opposition to proposals that aim to increase the statutory retirement age. Instead, he advocates for a more flexible approach to pension transitions and a fairer pension system.
Voigt's position contrasts with proposals to raise the retirement age by stressing flexible pension transitions. This approach allows individuals to gradually step down from full employment into retirement, for instance, through part-time work combined with partial pension receipt, rather than being forced to work to a single higher cutoff age.
In addition to flexible pension transitions, Voigt calls for a fair pension system that addresses distributional and intergenerational fairness. He seeks pension rules that better reflect varied careers, health, and caregiving breaks, instead of a blanket age increase.
Voigt emphasizes the need for a pension system that considers long-term contributors and future generations. In an interview with "Stern," he stated that a dignified retirement and a pension that allows for a decent living is a right for those who have worked their entire lives.
One example of a flexible retirement model that Voigt mentions is the planned "active pension." This model allows individuals to work beyond the statutory retirement age voluntarily, while still receiving partial pension benefits.
Both Voigt and Federal Minister of Economics Katharina Reiche are members of the CDU party. However, Voigt's criticism is directed towards Reiche's plans to increase the retirement age, which he deems unrealistic and not feasible for many people, particularly those in physically demanding jobs.
It is important to note that the search results available for this query are limited, and do not provide a detailed policy text, specific legislative proposals, or technical design in the indexed item. For more precise policy measures, such as draft laws, working-time/benefit formulas, and compensation mechanisms for pension finances, further research into Voigt's speeches, party papers, or Thuringian government policy documents would be necessary.
[1] Sources: Various online news articles and interviews, including an interview with "Stern" magazine.
- Mario Voigt, the CDU party member and Minister President of Thuringia, has expressed his opposition to policies that aim to increase the statutory retirement age, emphasizing a more flexible approach to pension transitions.
- In his vision for a fair pension system, Voigt advocates for pension rules that better reflect varied careers, health, and caregiving breaks, instead of a blanket age increase in policy-and-legislation.
- As opposed to the federal plans proposed by his CDU counterpart, Katharina Reiche, Voigt criticizes her plans to raise the retirement age, arguing they are unrealistic and not feasible for many people, particularly those in health-and-wellness issues related to physically demanding jobs.
