Robert Habeck calls for billionaire tax for school equipment

Green candidate for chancellor Robert Habeck is in favor of a billionaire tax. There are some billionaires in Germany, the Federal Economics Minister told “Bild am Sonntag”. “If you were to tax a small portion of their assets, then you would have around five to six billion euros.” Habeck spoke out in favor of using the income to renovate schools and to invest in school equipment and staff.

According to research by “Manager Magazin”, there are 249 billionaires in Germany. However, taxes may not be collected for specific purposes. School policy is the responsibility of the federal states; school construction is the responsibility of the municipalities.

The Union accused Habeck of endangering the economy. Habeck wants to “prevent jobs from being created in Germany with his billionaire tax fantasies,” said Union faction deputy Julia Klöckner to the German Press Agency. “Anyone who believes that they can distract from their own failings in economic policy with a debate about envy is underestimating people.”

Support for Habeck’s proposal, however, comes from the ranks of the SPD. “It makes sense to make billionaires more responsible with a special tax,” said SPD economic politician Bernd Westphal to “Welt”.

Left party leader Jan van Aken described Habeck’s move as “cute”. “Germany’s billionaires pay the six billion together from petty cash,” he told “Welt”. A wealth tax based on the Left’s model would bring in 108 billion annually and, in the long term, eliminate billionaires.

Habeck also spoke out in favor of the state subsidizing trainees’ driving licenses – “let’s say 1,000 euros, if the training company adds another 500 euros,” he told “Bild am Sonntag”. The trades had recently demanded such support; the demand had already been made by various parties.

The Green politician renewed his suggestion that the state pre-finance the expansion of the electricity network and not consumers through their electricity bills. He also suggested increasing the income tax flat rate for business expenses to 1,500 euros. Most recently it was 1,230 euros, which employees can deduct as a flat rate from their taxes to offset work-related costs such as travel to work or training.

A new Bundestag is expected to be elected on February 23rd. In the race for the chancellorship, Habeck – who is running for the Greens as a “candidate for the people” and therefore also as a candidate for chancellor – obviously does not see himself as the favorite – in the interview he described his own statement as “actually a bit of an underdog” Position formulated”.