Former Finance Minister Christian Lindner sharply criticizes Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s justification for a pension contribution increase.

Lindner questioned Merz’s professional background during an interview, expressing surprise at his argument for a two-percentage-point increase in capital pension contributions, which he claims would benefit the German capital market by €30 billion.

The SPD’s openness to abolishing early retirement options has caught Lindner off guard, suggesting potential leadership challenges within the party following upcoming state elections.