Germany's debate over the early retirement scheme known as "Rente mit 63" has reopened following recent election losses, with parties now discussing what compromises might be possible, RP Online reports.
The discussion centers on the rules that let people claim a full pension without deductions after a long contribution record. According to FOCUS online, talks are underway about raising the number of contribution years required. Tagesspiegel reports that the chair of the country's pension commission said in an interview that the deduction-free pension will have to be abolished sooner or later.
The Christian Social Union has drawn a distinction between hardship cases and regular cases, Handelsblatt reports — backing exceptions for hardship while rejecting them as a general rule. Meanwhile, rbb24.de reports a separate push behind the idea that everyone should be in one system under the same conditions.
The coverage follows a period of electoral setbacks for the governing parties, which has put pension reform back on the agenda. The sources do not specify which compromise, if any, has been agreed.
What to watch next: whether the parties settle on a specific change to the contribution years or the deduction-free rules, and when any proposal is put forward.
