Coalition agreement: Klingbeil does not categorically exclude tax increases

SPD boss Lars Klingbeil does not categorically exclude tax increases in the coming years with the designated new black and red federal government. “The foremost goal remains that we make Germany and Europe strong and that we also have the financial means for this. In turbulent times, nothing can be ruled out in principle, otherwise you unnecessarily captivate yourself,” said Klingbeil to the newspapers of the Funke media group. No tax increases are provided in the coalition agreement between the Union and the SPD, but they are also not explicitly excluded.

Probably future Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) rejects tax increases. “We have a coalition agreement, and there is no tax increase in it, there will be no one,” said the CDU chairman recently in the ARD program “Caren Miosga”. But Merz was open to a small back door with a view to the world situation: “You should never” never “say. We don’t know what is still happening in this world. I think we will experience the crisis as the new normal.”

“Evaluation of financial situation again and again”

Klingbeil alluded to this statement in an interview with the Funke media group. The SPD leader said: “But I have now also noted that Friedrich Merz said publicly that tax increases cannot be excluded for all time. In this respect, it applies that we will be re-evaluated again and again.”

When asked that the taxes could increase, Klingbeil said: “The agreement is: no tax increases. But I have experienced what it means in the traffic light coalition if you have lifted yourself financially.” He expects the designated new federal government to always have the openness to “talk about the current situation and about the things that are necessary and meaningful.”

The debate about tax increases usually deals with higher loads for rich and wealthy, for example through a higher inheritance tax or a wealth tax. For small and medium -sized incomes, the federal government wants to reduce income tax – but that is also not considered to be fixed.

Klingbeil names the schedule for minimum laceration

SPD boss Klingbeil also said in the Funke interview that in his view, the minimum wage should increase to 15 euros in the coming year. “A minimum wage of 15 euros will be reached in 2026 if the minimum wage commission takes itself seriously and implemented what is in its rules of procedure,” said Klingbeil. In addition to chairman Christiane Schönefeld, the commission consists of two scientists and three members of the employer and employee side. The aim is that the tariff partners agree and that the government does not decide.