The German government has dismissed a report in the tabloid newspaper Bild regarding a possible increase in the state pension age to 70.
Thorsten Frei, head of Chancellor Friedrich Merz's office, told Welt TV on Thursday that this was mere speculation and that one must be very cautious about such preliminary reports.
A spokeswoman for the Social Democratic-led Ministry of Social Affairs said the ministry would not comment on alleged interim findings from the Pension Commission which is examining issues surrounding retirement and pensions.
The German government has confidence in the high level of competence and expertise of the commission’s chair to achieve recommendations agreed upon by the entire commission, she said.
Frei said the Pension Commission is expected to convene for its final meetings in early June and present its report on long-term reforms thereafter. He expects there to be heated debate within the committee right up to the end.
According to Bild, the experts on the commission, which meets in confidence, intend to recommend gradually raising the state pension age from 67 to 70. This would reportedly apply from the early 2060s and would therefore affect people born after 1990.
The report further states that gradual reductions to the pension level from 48% to 46% are to be recommended. This refers to a statistical ratio of pensions to average earnings.
Due to demographic trends, an increasing number of pensioners are being supported by an ever-decreasing number of contributors.
Like other conservative politicians before him, Frei told Welt TV that he was open to a higher retirement age. “I believe it is entirely reasonable to say that if life expectancy rises in Germany, this must also have an impact on working life.”
The financial daily Handelsblatt reported that several members of the Pensions Commission have denied that the panel has agreed on a retirement age of 70.