A new generation of German conservatives, led by Johannes Volkmann, the grandson of former chancellor Helmut Kohl, is challenging Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s flagship pension reform, exposing growing divisions within Germany’s ruling coalition.
A Youth-Led Rebellion in Parliament
Volkmann, 28, and a group of 18 young MPs from Merz’s Christian Democratic Union and Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) bloc have threatened to block the government’s pension bill, arguing it places an unsustainable burden on younger generations. Their dissent is significant: with Merz’s coalition holding just a 12-seat majority in the 630-seat Bundestag, their votes could derail the legislation.
The proposed bill, championed by the Social Democrats (SPD) within the coalition, guarantees that statutory pensions will remain at 48% of previous income until 2031. Critics argue this policy — originally designed to provide stability for retirees — will cost €10–15 billion annually after 2031, exceeding prior fiscal projections.
Volkmann and his allies say the plan violates the coalition agreement and threatens the financial future of younger Germans. “It’s a core generational issue,” he told the Financial Times. “Most in our caucus support what we are saying.”
Merz Caught Between Allies and Coalition Partners
Chancellor Merz has acknowledged the concerns raised by younger lawmakers and promised to discuss adjustments with SPD partners. “They have a point,” he said, indicating that revisions could be considered during parliamentary negotiations.
However, the SPD — led by Labour Minister Bärbel Bas — has shown little interest in changing the proposal. The dispute now risks stalling broader talks on pension-related measures, including incentives for older workers, private pension expansion, and bonuses for mothers — all CDU/CSU priorities.
Political analyst Peter Matuschek of the Forsa polling institute described the standoff as unprecedented: “It’s rare to see a youth faction wield this much influence. The coalition’s slim majority makes even small internal rebellions potentially decisive.”
Broader Tensions Within the Coalition
The pension dispute adds to a string of intraparty clashes that have disrupted Merz’s legislative agenda. A recent judicial appointment vote collapsed after conservative MPs objected to a candidate perceived as too liberal on abortion — a rebellion in which the same young faction played a key role.
A Forsa poll released this week found that 75% of Germans are dissatisfied with the government’s performance, reflecting growing frustration over economic stagnation and political infighting.
A Generational Shift in the CDU
Volkmann represents a new conservative current within the CDU/CSU — younger politicians advocating for economic liberalism and traditional social values after what they view as years of centrist drift under Angela Merkel. The faction draws its roots from the Junge Union, the CDU’s youth wing, which has produced many party heavyweights, including Kohl, Merz, and Wolfgang Schäuble.
While Volkmann strongly supports Merz’s defence and foreign policy, he describes the cabinet’s approval of the pension plan as a “failure of oversight.” Still, he praises the chancellor’s broader direction, saying Merz embodies the “Bonn Republic values” associated with his grandfather — conservative, pro-European, and security-focused.
Legacy and Political Outlook
Volkmann, who holds a master’s degree in Contemporary Chinese Studies from Oxford University, says his decision to enter politics was driven by a sense of duty during a time of “rising global systemic rivalries.”
“There are many of my grandfather’s values that I share — his commitment to Europe, the resilience of the political West, and the belief that strength underpins peace,” he said, referencing Helmut Kohl’s role in Germany’s 1980s rearmament during the Cold War.
As the pension reform debate unfolds, Volkmann’s stand has turned a routine budgetary issue into a test of generational influence and party identity — and a reminder that even within Germany’s conservative bloc, the battle over the country’s fiscal and political future is far from settled.
