With their demand to temporarily ask top earners to pay more to finance the aid packages in the current crisis, the economists have triggered a political dispute. Traffic light partners SPD and Greens are happy to accept the proposal. The FDP, on the other hand, rules out tax increases.
After the relief packages worth billions, the traffic light coalition is arguing about financing the fight against the crisis. The deputy head of the SPD parliamentary group, Achim Post, told the "Welt" that SPD party leader Lars Klingbeil was right when he pointed out the need for a fair distribution of the burden of the crisis. "This is one of the very elementary justice tasks that lie ahead of us," said Post.
In the "Bild am Sonntag" newspaper, Klingbeil called for a debate about tax justice and a heavier burden on the wealthy. The German Council of Economic Experts recently made a similar proposal.
In their annual report, the so-called economic experts explained that "partial financing" of the state relief measures in the energy crisis "by a strictly limited increase in the top tax rate or the introduction of an energy solidarity surcharge for higher earners could be considered".
The proposals met with approval from the Greens. "The really high unequal distribution in Germany in an international comparison harbors substantial dangers for democratic cohesion," said the financial policy spokeswoman for the parliamentary group, Katharina Beck, of the "world". "That's why, especially in the current crisis, we have to seriously consider the Council of Economic Experts' proposals to have strong shoulders contribute more to the financing of the costs of the crisis."
The FDP, on the other hand, protested. "We have to stay on the path of relief," said parliamentary group leader Christian Dürr. With the Inflation Compensation Act, a first important step towards more tax justice has been taken. "This is a path that we must continue together," said Dürr, who ruled out further burdens. "It would be a slap in the face for small and medium-sized businesses if every economic recovery were to be choked off immediately after the crises."
Union financial expert Mathias Middelberg also criticized the demands of the SPD and the Greens. Germany is stuck in one of the biggest crises since the Second World War. "Higher taxes would be poison for our companies and would massively endanger our jobs," said the CDU politician. It must now be discussed about relief and not about new burdens.
