Politics · Germany · 4 hrs ago
Merz says he will risk popularity to push German welfare reforms
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says he will put welfare reform ahead of popularity as he seeks to improve prospects for younger people.
He made the comments at an employers' association conference in Frankfurt on Tuesday.
Merz says Germany is at least 30 years late in overhauling its retirement system, which pays current retirees using contributions from workers and employers.
He said contributions from both groups would need to rise temporarily to respond to demographic change.
The reforms come as Merz's coalition faces political pressure, after state election defeats and falling opinion poll ratings.
Germany's labour minister from the centre-left SPD quit on Monday, adding to uncertainty around the coalition.
Merz says he is willing to risk unpopularity to put the country on a better course, but the sources give no details on when the reforms will be proposed or decided.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he was prepared to risk his popularity to push welfare reforms.
He said the changes should put Germany on the right course and give younger people better prospects.
Merz said Germany was at least 30 years late in plans to overhaul its pay-as-you-go retirement system.
He said pension contributions paid by workers and employers would have to rise temporarily to address demographic change.
His remarks came amid uncertainty around his coalition following election defeats and a decline in opinion polls.
- Who
- German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
- What
- He said he would risk his popularity to push welfare reforms, including an overhaul of the retirement system.
- When
- Tuesday, October 13, 2026.
- Where
- An employers' association conference in Frankfurt.
- Why
- Merz said reforms were needed to put Germany on the right course and give younger people decent prospects.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Germany's labour minister from the centre-left SPD quit, adding to uncertainty around Merz's coalition.
Merz's coalition suffered bruising state election defeats.
Merz said he was ready to sacrifice popularity to push welfare reforms.
- Speaker
- Friedrich Merz
- Location
- Frankfurt
- Retirement system
- Pay-as-you-go
- Overhaul delay
- At least 30 years
- Pension contributions
- Workers' and employers' contributions would have to rise temporarily
What people are saying
I have no intention of becoming the nation's darling. My intention is to set this country on the right course so that, above all, we can once again offer the younger generation decent prospects
Sources
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