Saving on social expenses in the South
In recent developments, Bavarian CSU leader Markus Söder has expressed his concern over the proposed delay in the payment of the expanded mother's pension, which is currently planned for 2028. Söder insists on a possible rapid payment of the extended benefit, arguing that 2028 is too late.
However, it is important to note that the extension of the period of child-rearing in the statutory pension insurance is not linked to the reduction of electricity tax for industry, as stated by Söder.
The extension of the mother's pension to a total of three years for children born before 1992 is a central question of social justice, according to Söder. He has also pointed out potential savings in the social sector that could be utilised to facilitate earlier payment.
The ongoing coalition between Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) and the SPD leadership, with SPD Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil playing a key role, has been focusing on defence spending, foreign policy, and migration policies. However, there is a lack of publicly available evidence from the cited sources about active or concluded talks between the Union and SPD concerning social spending cuts, economic relief tied to electricity taxes or SMEs, or details on the mother’s pension.
In a separate development, a meeting between Union and SPD leaders is scheduled to take place in Berlin on Wednesday for a coalition committee. The agenda for this meeting is expected to include discussions on further reductions in energy prices and a review of expenses to create room for further relief.
It is worth mentioning that the controversial decision on electricity tax will be discussed during this meeting. Söder has advocated for "complete relief" for SMEs and crafts, but there is no specific mention of any relief measures in relation to the payment of the expanded mother's pension.
The ongoing debates and government actions have been met with broad criticism, including from within the Union. The search results do not provide direct, detailed information on the current status of discussions specifically between the Union and SPD regarding cuts to social spending, relief measures for the economy, or the implementation of the mother's pension. To obtain precise, up-to-date information on these specific policy discussions, further targeted sources such as recent government statements, coalition meeting reports, or financial ministry releases would be necessary.
Finance minister Lars Klingbeil, amidst the ongoing coalition between Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) and the SPD leadership, has yet to address potential savings in the social sector that could be utilized for the accelerated payment of the extended mother's pension, as suggested by Bavarian CSU leader Markus Söder. In the realm of politics and general-news, the future of business sectors like SMEs and their tax implications remain intertwined with the ongoing debates about the mother's pension and the controversial decision on electricity tax.
