The Merz coalition scraped together a majority of 318 Bundestag MPs in favour of the contested pensions Bill. Photograph: John MacDougall/ AFP via Getty ImagesGerman chancellor Friedrich Merz saw off a parliamentary rebellion on Friday and narrowly held his coalition together in a controversial pensions vote, after two months of bad-tempered debate. [ German vote exposes Merz weakness and some CDU members’ far-right ambitionsOpens in new window ]It instructed its MPs to abstain to lower the majority required to pass the pensions Bill. Not all younger CDU MPs heeded that warning. In addition to its multi-billion Bill, younger CDU politicians said the pension Bill pre-empted pension reform recommendations from a state commission, due next year.

Source: The Irish Times December 06, 2025 02:24 UTC