"Don't Wait Forever": Internal ÖVP Struggle Over Retirement Age
In the ÖVP faction in the National Council, there is resistance against the stance of club chairman August Wöginger on the topic of pensions. He recently spoke categorically against an increase in the retirement age in an APA interview. Member of Parliament Gudrun Kugler holds a different opinion. "We cannot wait forever with such a measure," she said in the "Presse". She warned against election campaign incentives and also pointed to an increase in the retirement age in other countries.
Kugler calls for long-term adjustment
The decision on partial retirement is "good and right," said Kugler, bringing the actual retirement age closer to the statutory age is "an important step." However: "This will not save us from having to increase the statutory retirement age as well." We cannot wait forever, "because in terms of trust protection, it should be noted that an increase in the statutory retirement age requires many years of lead time."
Criticism of election campaign motives
That the government will not increase the statutory retirement age in this legislative period is, for Kugler, "a missed opportunity with high costs for the next generation." Other countries have already responded to demographic changes and increased the retirement age or linked it to rising life expectancy. The ÖVP member of parliament mentioned Germany, the Netherlands, and the Scandinavian countries, which are a step ahead of Austria.
"It is not enough to only think about the next election," Kugler also stated. "The phenomenon of making politics primarily for pensioners will continue to increase because the proportion of pensioners in the total population continues to rise." This is ultimately a challenge for democracy.
Joy among NEOS
There was joy about Kugler's statements among the NEOS. Social spokesperson Johannes Gasser wrote on X: "Great that there are voices in the ÖVP club that, along with us NEOS, point out that sustainability in the pension system requires a higher retirement age!"
(APA/Red)
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