Hesse's Head of Government Praises Retirement Criticism from Union Faction - Hesse’s Premier Calls for Bold Pension Reforms and Welfare Overhaul
Hesse's Head of Government Praises Retirement Criticism from Union Faction
Hesse's Head of Government Praises Retirement Criticism from Union Faction
Hesse's Head of Government Praises Retirement Criticism from Union Faction
2025-12-06T15:59:57+00:00
boris rhein, retirement reform, rhein, union faction, retirement package, bundestag, passage, wiesbaden, berlin, government, retirement, hesse, germany, policy-and-legislation, politics, general-news
Hessian Premier Boris Rhein has pushed for major changes to Germany’s pension system and welfare policies. He called for a swift end to the citizen’s benefit (Bürgergeld) while advocating a bold expansion of early-start pensions. His proposals aim to reshape incentives for work and long-term saving money tips from birth onwards.
Rhein began by criticising the current welfare system. He demanded the immediate abolition of Bürgergeld, arguing it would revive a 'culture of performance' and encourage employment over unemployment. His remarks came alongside broader calls for reform.
He then turned to pensions, praising recent criticism of the federal government’s reform package. Rhein thanked opponents for triggering a necessary debate, describing their input as valuable. His own plan includes 'smart incentives' for private retirement savings and a lifelong pension system starting at birth.
Under existing federal proposals, children would receive a state contribution of ten euros per month into a retirement account from age six. Rhein wants to go further, though he did not name the head of the pension commission tasked with implementing the changes. Instead, he stressed the need for a 'genuine, sustainable early-start pension' tailored to younger generations.
The Hessian leader’s proposals combine stricter welfare rules with expanded pension support. His vision includes state-backed savings from birth and stronger work incentives. The next steps depend on negotiations with the federal government and the unnamed pension commission.
