In the dispute over a possible increase in the pension limit for police officers and firefighters, the Berlin Greens faction is opposing Interior Senator Iris Spranger (SPD). “The interior senator’s accusation against the financial administration is exaggerated, since there is not even a coordinated draft bill,” said Vasili Franco, spokesman for domestic affairs for the parliamentary group, in the Tagesspiegel.
Previously, Spranger had publicly reprimanded Finance Senator Daniel Wesener (Greens) because plans to raise the age limit had become public. These were not coordinated with her, Spranger told the Tagesspiegel.
Franco defended the finance senator: “Of course, the financial administration also has in mind that there must be special rules for police officers and firefighters because of the special burdens – as in all other federal states.” There will therefore not be a flat-rate increase to 67 years, promised the Greens domestic politician. “We have to pay particular attention to the prison staff and carefully and carefully consider any possible increase in the retirement age.”
However, this is a matter of course, said Franco. From the coalition, however, it can be heard from several sides that a slight increase in the age limit for police officers and firefighters is also being discussed.
However, consultations with the trade unions and staff representatives, among others, are still pending in the coming weeks. According to information from the Tagesspiegel, a draft bill is not expected until the summer. The dispute between the internal and financial administration was triggered by the financial administration’s response to a parliamentary question in which it was announced that the general increase in pension limits would also include those for prison staff.
[If you want all the latest news live on your phone, we recommend our app, which you can download here for Apple and Android devices.]
The background is a long-term increase in the retirement age to the level of the retirement age. Berlin is the last federal state that has not yet implemented this. From January 1, 2023, the tax authorities want to gradually raise the retirement age to up to 67 years.
However, this is being done cautiously: because the retirement age is only to be increased by three months each year, the final adjustment would not be complete until 2031. Special rules apply to police officers and firefighters in all federal states. You can retire a little earlier everywhere – mostly between the ages of 60 and 63. That is also to be expected in Berlin.
