德国总理弗里德里希·默茨周二表示，尽管其支持率创历史新低且执政联盟内部存在分歧，他仍将推进社会保障改革。
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz pledged Tuesday to press ahead with social security reforms despite record-low approval ratings and disagreements within his governing coalition.
默茨在柏林举行的雇主日会议上警告称，德国的“社会保障体系正达到其财政可持续性的极限”。他表示，改革工作正值“多重危机”之际，包括乌克兰战争、海湾冲突、油价上涨以及美国关税。
Speaking at the Employers’ Day conference in Berlin, Merz warned that Germany’s “social security systems are reaching the limits of their financial sustainability.”He said the reform effort coincided with “multiple crises,” including the war in Ukraine, the Gulf conflict, rising oil prices and US tariffs.
“在这种情况下，我们正试图推进一些被忽视了的改革，在某些情况下甚至被忽视了数十年，”他说。“我们必须超越这段多重危机时期。我们必须识别结构性失衡，并寻找结构性解决方案。我们经济的长期增长潜力必须提升。”默茨承认，同时对德国社会保障体系进行变革将对公众提出要求。
“In this situation, we are trying to implement reforms that have been neglected, in some cases for decades,” he said. “We must look beyond this period of multiple crises. We must identify the structural imbalances, and we must find structural solutions. The long-term growth potential of our economy must increase.”Merz acknowledged the demands that simultaneous changes to Germany’s social security systems would place on the public.
“从未有过所有社会保障体系同时被改革的情况，”他说。“我很高兴，至少有大多数人意识到这种现代化的必要性，并且也接受它。我们希望以一种对每个人都同样公平和同样稳健的方式完成这项工作。”ARD-DeutschlandTrend民意调查于9月28日至30日进行，结果显示，仅10%的有资格选民对默茨的表现感到满意，而88%表示不满意。这是该调查记录的总理最低满意度。
“Never before have all of our social security systems been reformed at the same time,” he said. “I am grateful that a large majority is at least aware of the need for this modernization and also accepts it. We want to get this done in a way that is equally fair and equally sound for everyone.”An ARD-DeutschlandTrend poll conducted Sept. 28-30 found that just 10% of eligible voters were satisfied with Merz’s performance, while 88% were dissatisfied. It was the lowest satisfaction rating for a chancellor recorded by the survey.
然而，另一项ZDF在9月进行的民意调查显示，85%的受访者认为基本改革很重要，即使这伴随着财政负担和削减。
However, a separate September poll for ZDF found that 85% considered fundamental reforms important, even if they involved financial burdens and cuts.
尽管默茨所属的中右翼基督教民主联盟（CDU）上个月在州议会选举中遭遇一系列失利，但他仍誓言在其社会民主党（SPD）联盟伙伴中出现一些动摇的情况下，继续推进改革计划。
Despite his center-right Christian Democrats (CDU) witnessing a series of losses in state elections last month, Merz has vowed to push ahead with the plans amid some wavering from his Social Democrat (SPD) coalition partners.
特别是，中左翼的社民党正试图就一项新规进行谈判，该规则禁止对缴纳社保满45年的工人提前退休且不扣除任何费用——这是默茨迄今为止一直拒绝软化的立场。
In particular, the centre-left SPD is seeking to negotiate over a new rule banning early retirement without deductions for workers with 45 years of social security contributions – a position that Merz has so far refused to soften.
“我将继续努力，确保尽管政府内部偶尔会有意见分歧，正确的行动方案和必要的步骤始终占上风，”默茨说。
"I will continue to fight to ensure that, despite occasional differences of opinion within the government, the right course of action and the necessary steps always prevail," Merz said.