A group of Green MPs led by Katrin Göring-Eckardt is again in favor of a one-off wealth levy. Criticism of the proposal comes mainly from the FDP.
Berlin – The citizens of Germany are being exposed to increasing stress due to the ongoing crises. The Corona pandemic, which has been ongoing since 2020, was followed this year by the Ukraine war and the associated energy crisis. Combined with rising inflation rates, these developments mean that more and more people in Germany have to fear for their existence.
Due to ongoing crises: Expert opinion considers one-time property levy possible
These crises could possibly serve as a “suitable reason” for a one-off wealth levy on those who have large assets despite the ongoing burden. This is the result of an expert report carried out by the Bundestag’s scientific service Editorial network Germany present.
Accordingly, the financial consequences of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine or the climate crisis are possible reasons for the levying of such a property levy. “On the basis of this interpretation, the consequences of the climate crisis or the war against Ukraine can also be a suitable reason for the one-time levying of a property tax, according to the legislator’s assessment,” the quoted RND from the results of the assessment.
Göring-Eckardt for one-time property levy – “We have an emergency situation”
The report was commissioned by Katrin Göring-Eckardt, Vice President of the Bundestag and former Green Party leader. It has been known since the end of September that she wants to continue to campaign for a one-off wealth levy. As the taz had reported, Göring-Eckardt and other parliamentary group colleagues submitted an application for the Green party conference at the weekend. “Even people with very high fortunes should give something,” the portal quotes from the group’s application. This is to be done via a “constitutional property levy”.
Compared to the RND Göring-Eckardt reaffirmed their concerns. “We have an emergency situation, not because of one but several crises,” said the former leader of the Greens. All these crises would increase social imbalance.
Wealth levy: FDP against Greens initiative – “endangers economic stability”
However, it seems far from likely that the traffic light government could agree on such a one-off property levy. The financial policy spokesman for the FDP, Markus Herbrand, positioned himself at the request of Merkur.de from IPPEN.MEDIA clearly against the levying of such a property tax.
“According to the motto ‘old wine in new bottles’, an idea is being revived that was classified as hardly compatible with the Basic Law as early as 1993 by the Federal Constitutional Court and most recently in 2021 by the Scientific Advisory Board at the Federal Ministry of Finance,” explains Herbrand with a view to the Greens’ initiative . “The Greens’ initiative is therefore going in the wrong direction and endangers economic stability,” the member of the Bundestag continued.
Despite the energy crisis: FDP sees no need for further levies or tax increases
The financial policy spokesman for the FDP points out that Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) has presented “a convincing concept for financing the mammoth tasks ahead of us”. The FDP parliamentary group therefore sees no need for further levies or tax increases.
Herbrand also criticizes the reasoning of the Bundestag’s scientific service. This was thought too short and could not convince. “Following this simple pattern, the right expertise would certainly have to be found for a complete backwards roll-out of the nuclear phase-out compared to the billions in costs for the renewable energy transition,” said the member of the Bundestag.
This week, it is not the first time that there have been disagreements in the traffic light coalition. After the Lower Saxony elections, FDP General Secretary Bijan Djir-Sarai said quite openly that the FDP had “big problems with this coalition.” Whether there is agreement, at least within the Greens, on the levying of a property levy will be seen at the weekend. Then the federal delegates conference of the party in Bonn. (fd)
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