German pension reform excludes 28% of Bundestag members who are civil servants

The German government is planning a major pension reform, but 28% of the Bundestag members who will vote on it are themselves not affected. These are civil servants (Beamte), who have their own pension system and are exempt from the proposed changes. The Rentenkommission (pension commission) has submitted 30 recommendations to the government, which would oblige politicians and self-employed individuals to contribute more, but civil servants are initially excluded for constitutional reasons. Meanwhile, measures like the Nachholfaktor and Nachhaltigkeitsfaktor will lower the overall pension level, pushing the general population toward a retirement age of 70. SPD chair Saskia Esken's stance on the reform remains unclear.