Anke Rehlinger, Minister-President of Saarland, receives her guests at home – in an area that seems rural even by Saarland standards. Behind the house, a bull grazes; in the distance stands the timber company where her father worked as a shift supervisor. On the terrace, there is a gas grill, and the SPD state leader assures with a smile that, of course, there is also a swing grill in the garden below – since this year, it is even intangible cultural heritage.
In an interview with Roland Preuß and Kathrin Wiesel-Lancé of the Süddeutsche Zeitung, Rehlinger speaks clearly about the current pension policy of the federal government. She considers the plans unfair. At the same time, she makes an offer for care reform – without going into detail about what specific changes she envisions.
Saarland is considered one of the last strongholds of the SPD. Rehlinger, who has governed the state since 2022, sees herself as a voice for those directly affected by federal policy decisions. Her criticism targets a policy that, in her view, exacerbates social imbalances.
The debate over pensions is highly controversial in Germany. While the federal government is pushing for a gradual increase in the retirement age, unions and parts of the opposition are calling for a departure from this line. Rehlinger’s intervention comes at a time when the SPD is fighting for trust in the election campaign – recently, Secretary-General Tim Klüssendorf had fueled hopes that early retirement might survive.
Source: www.sueddeutsche.de
