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The Union's hot-button topic these days is the active pension, a key promise for "prosperity and security." Confusion reigns, sparked by a misleading statement from Hendrik Hoppenstedt, the CDU's parliamentary business manager. In an interview, he claimed that the pension fund would be alleviated by the active pension because the pension payment doesn't start immediately, implying that working would bar pension receipt.
This assertion had people scratching their heads - not just in the studio. The core idea, tax-free extra income to incentivize prolonged work, vanished. Phoenix host Michaela Kolster asked, clearly bewildered: "So, I don't retire at 67, I just keep working and then I don't get a pension for that time?"
In the aftermath, netizens raged: "Does the CDU think pensioners are dumb?" One user asked sarcastically, while others felt betrayed, branding the idea a "bait and switch."
However, it turns out that Hoppenstedt was off the mark. He backtracked, admitting a slip of the tongue. But the damage was done - the CDU's active pension concept crumbled under the weight of his words.
The CDU goes into damage control mode. Party heavyweight Carsten Linnemann clarified: "With the active pension, you don't have to give up the statutory pension. On the contrary, the statutory pension is a prerequisite for the active pension." Individuals can voluntarily work and earn up to 2000 euros tax-free, creating additional purchasing power and securing skilled workers. So, as it turns out, the debate boiled down to neither/or - pensioners can indeed receive both.
The SPD follows suit, hoping to clarify the situation. Deputy SPD parliamentary group leader Wiebke Esdar assured: "The active pension is obviously in addition to the pension. [Retirees] receive their hard-earned pension regularly, and they can then voluntarily continue working and earn up to 2000 euros tax-free per month."
Right now, retirees can already earn unlimited additional income without their pension being reduced, but they pay regular taxes on everything. The active pension aims to change that by offering tax-free income - on top of the current pension, as promised by the CDU.
The CDU's misleading statement about the active pension policy-and-legislation caused confusion and outrage, with people questioning the party's understanding of the general-news situation. In an attempt to clarify, party heavyweight Carsten Linnemann stated that the active pension does not replace the statutory pension but instead allows individuals to earn up to 2000 euros tax-free while working, thus receiving both pensions.
