(de-news.net) – Green Party leader in the Bundestag, Britta Haßelmann, has stated that the factions within the Bundestag have yet to reach a consensus regarding joint legislative initiatives, with the CDU insisting that the vote of confidence must be resolved prior to any further legislative discussions. Among the Green Party’s primary objectives are the fortification of the Federal Constitutional Court and the continuation of the Deutschlandticket. Dialogue between the SPD, CDU, and Greens is described as constructive, with Chancellor Scholz scheduled to call for a vote of confidence on December 16, ahead of the elections on February 23.
Labor Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD) has meanwhile acknowledged that the proposed pension reform will not be enacted within the current legislative session but reiterated his commitment to ensuring the stability of pension levels, warning of potential reductions beyond 2025. The reform seeks to maintain pensions at 48% of income until 2039 with the help of a stock-based pension fund.
Opposition leader Friedrich Merz declared that the Union will not support government initiatives during this transitional period, while the FDP has opposed the second pension package. The CDU/CSU faction has formally rejected proposed health-related legislation proposed by the SPD and the Greens, with Union health policy spokesperson Tino Sorge attributing the stalling of reforms to the government’s collapse. The Union has also accused the government of attempting to obscure its failures, as promised structural reforms in statutory health insurance and long-term care insurance have not been realized.
SPD president Saskia Esken proposed engaging in discussions with the Union on reforming the constitutional debt brake before the current legislative period concludes, aligning with CDU president Merz’s position that borrowing should be directed towards investment rather than consumption. The coalition of the SPD, Greens, and FDP disbanded over disagreements regarding the constitutional debt brake, which restricts government borrowing except in cases of emergency.