SPD and the Greens, as well as the PDS, accused the government of extremely unjust political clearfelling.
Social security comprises superannuation, health and unemployment insurance.
East Germany not having contributed to the previously West German social security scheme. Members for the SPD and Greens tried to shoot down planned cuts in sickness pay while on maternity leave, something even some coalition members had found hard to stomach, but to no avail. Due to a procedural mistake the vote on cost-cutting as far as superannuation was concerned, had to be postponed. The opposition parties, not wanting to be railroaded by government, said no to a compromise, viz. Now all members of parliament have to come back to parliament and sit under urgency on 9 July, right at the beginning of the summer recess.