Germany's Social Minister Bärbel Bas (SPD) has categorically rejected raising the retirement age to 70 during the current legislative period, despite pressure from Chancellor Friedrich Merz's CDU. The debate intensified after an Alterssicherungskommission, established by Merz and Bas, met on February 23, 2026, in Berlin to discuss the proposal amidst Germany's pressing demographic challenges. While the CDU views the increase as unavoidable to prevent pension system collapse, Bas advocates for flexible retirement options rather than a fixed age. This political division persists even as German workers already retire later than counterparts in countries like France and Italy, and the current retirement age of 67 is gradually increasing until 2031.