Carsten Linnemann, the CDU’s Secretary‑General, is calling for concrete cuts in the income tax. “The income tax must deliver” he told the German newspaper Bild am Sonntag. He stressed the need to negotiate a reform package with the SPD. The March health‑care report and the June pension report are on the agenda, and he believes the income‑tax reform should be added to those discussions.
Specifically, Linnemann proposes raising the threshold for the top tax rate. Rather than kicking in at a gross annual income of €68,000, he suggests it should start at €80,000. “By doing this, we flatten the middle‑class burden and provide relief” he explained. He envisions the reform being implemented around the middle of the legislative term. When asked about financing, he conceded that the money must be available and funded, but said making it happen is part of the political task.
