Many thanks to Hellequin GB for translating this article from Junge Freiheit. The translator’s comments are in square brackets:
Outrage over pension statement
How the Habeck ministry denies reality
Berlin
According to the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection (BMWK), led by Robert Habeck, “the German pension level is one of the highest in the world”. The BMWK claimed this on Twitter. There, a user initially criticized an interview with Habeck in the Süddeutsche Zeitung that was distributed by the ministry.
In truth, pensioners in Germany get only 51 percent of their last salary. This is the result of a worldwide comparative OECD study. Accordingly, a retiree in Italy receives an average of 90 percent of their last salary, in Austria it is 89 percent and in Spain 83 percent. Even Brazil, India and China are far ahead of Germany. The average for all countries is 12 points higher, at 63 percent.
According to official information from the German Pension Insurance (DRV), the pension level in Germany is only 49.4 percent.
“Mr. Habeck, you don’t know the economic data”
“Mr. Habeck, you don’t seem to know the economic data. Germany has slipped a long way in international comparison, we have the worst pensions, schools and infrastructure are ailing, and debt is increasing,” Renate Apfelthaler tweeted. The ministry then countered: “That is not true. The German economy is stable, the German pension level is one of the highest in the world and German debt is comparatively lower.”
Twitter users objected. Some spoke of “fake news”, others sent the OECD table, and one wrote: “If that is the actual belief and ‘knowledge’ of the ministry, then I am really panicking now.”
The Habeck ministry did not delete the tweet with the obvious false claim. Even three days after it was distributed, he defied all protests on Twitter.
Afterword from the translator:
He may know his way around the pensions of politicians, but he knows as much about the pensions of the working population — which will be forced to pay for HIS lavish pension — as a frog knows about motorcycling.
I often speak with people who “trust the government and mainstream media” – and I realised this is how they reply to every “problem” I throw at them:
If Russia cuts off the gas in october -> “No problem, we get the gas somewhere else”
They trust in electric cars, plan on buying some…
Current inflation, recession, depression -> no problem, they look forward 2 years ahead when the house prices come down so that they can buy some more property…
…and of course they are all injected.
I don’t know, I like these people, but I realised that its almost impossible to make them discuss “bad outcomes” – even theoretically, they just refuse to “discuss” the possibility that something might go wrong with the whole social and economic system.
When we part ways, I always tell them that I expect this coming crisis to be “the big one”, and that I am not convinced about that “good future” they see ahead, but that I wish they will be proven right.
In the meantime, I am buying wood and food. Prepare for the worst, and hope for the best.
I’m surprised the Australian figure is so high as many retire on the old aged pension which is about $20k per year.
A pension like in China or Brazil? Thanks, but no.
49,8 % does sound inadequate for a lifetime of work, but some maths could be helpful here: 50% of 3200 € makes 1600€ pm.
89% of ….. 1600€ …? And in the case of India, even 100% of nothing make nothing.
Merkel seems to have done okay with her pension. /sarc