Bloomberg reported on the threat to Merz's ruling party due to pension reform

Disagreements over pension reform within the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), led by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, threaten to undermine the authority of the German leader and break up the ruling CDU/CSU alliance with the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD). This was reported by Bloomberg on December 4.

"German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's unwieldy ruling alliance with the Social Democrats is facing an existential crisis that he himself created and which could lead to its collapse just seven months after he came to power," the article says.

According to the newspaper, a new threat to Merz's authority is posed by a group of young deputies of his party, which refuses to support the pension reform bill. Thus, the CDU/CSU Merz and SPD coalition holds 328 out of 630 seats in the lower house of parliament and has a slight advantage of 12 votes. Given the intransigence of at least 18 young CDU/CSU deputies, the vote on Merz's pension bill on December 5 may fail.

"At a closed meeting of the faction, Merz called on all conservative lawmakers to support the controversial bill, warning that a negative vote would have dramatic consequences," two sources told the publication.

At the same time, the rejection of pension reform may lead to the end of the coalition and the holding of new elections, noted SPD co-chair Berbel Bas. Members of the ruling coalition also fear competition with the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which is leading in the polls.

Germany can no longer maintain a social system. What does this mean?

Merz noted on October 7 that German citizens will have to increase spending on pensions, long-term care and healthcare. He clarified that problems with financing the country's pension system would not arise until 2031, but after that a "major reform" would be required. According to him, for the stability of the pension system, it is necessary to change the "basic structure" of pension insurance.

In August, Merz also stated that Germany could no longer afford the existing welfare system. The Chancellor reported that with the economy slowing down and unemployment rising, spending on pensions and social benefits continues to rise.

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