""We've cleared some major hurdles. I didn't leave here until 2:15 a.m., but it was worth it," Markus Soder, chairman of the conservative Bavarian CSU, said on Friday morning at the Chancellery. Looking a little tired but satisfied, Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU), who sat next to Soder at the press conference, echoed this sentiment. "The coalition is capable of acting," said the chancellor."
"There had been doubts about its ability to govern in recent days, mainly because a group of young lawmakers in the conservative government faction wanted to block a planned pension bill they said would prove too costly to younger generations. On this tricky issue, the coalition of Merz's CDU, Soder's CSU and the Social Democrats said on Friday it would not change the pension bill, but to commit to comprehensive pension reform after 2032."
Late-night negotiations produced an agreement within the three-party governing coalition (CDU, CSU, SPD) to keep the planned pension bill unchanged and to commit to comprehensive pension reform after 2032. A faction of young conservative lawmakers opposed the bill on grounds it would impose excessive costs on younger generations. The coalition entered the parliamentary vote with a narrow 12-vote majority and faced at least 18 conservative MPs who voiced strong opposition, making the upcoming Bundestag vote potentially close. Leadership expressed satisfaction and confidence that the coalition could act and that the bill would gain approval next week.
Read at www.dw.com
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