Michael Kretschmer threatens Bundesrat veto over pension reforms as AfD surges in eastern Germany

Saxony Minister President Michael Kretschmer warned the federal government that he will block the planned pension and long‑term care reforms in the Bundesrat unless the proposals are altered. In an interview he also rejected the idea of a "Brandmauer" to isolate the far‑right AfD, arguing that exclusion only fuels the party’s victim narrative.

Kretschmer is joined by other eastern state leaders, including Saxony‑Anhalt’s Sven Schulze and Thuringia’s Mario Voigt, who together control twelve votes in the upper house. They argue that without changes the reforms cannot pass, and they criticize the federal coalition’s plan to remove the “free‑from‑deduction” pension after 45 contribution years. Polls show the AfD at roughly 40‑42 % in Saxony, Saxony‑Anhalt and Thuringia, making coalition building increasingly difficult for the centre parties.

The stance underscores growing political tension between the eastern Länder and the Merz‑led federal government, with potential implications for the upcoming 2026 state elections in the east.