Bavarian premier Markus Söder, who also heads the CSU, has pushed for a sweeping tax and social reform. Addressing Mediengruppe Bayern’s Wednesday edition, Söder said, “We need a new Agenda 2010-essentially an Agenda 2030”. He pointed to the major social reforms initiated under former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder (SPD) and argued that a similar comprehensive package is urgently needed today.
Regarding the tax sector, Söder outlined three key priorities. First, the income tax should be lowered for the broad middle class. Second, the corporate‑tax reform plan must be accelerated. Third, the inheritance tax should be regionalised to benefit middle‑sized companies and family‑run businesses.
Söder also advocated for increased work effort, noting that more labor “creates more output”. He observed that this year two public holidays fall on a weekend, already yielding a noticeable boost to economic growth. Adding just one extra hour of work per week-approximately twelve minutes per weekday-could raise growth by almost three percent, according to Söder.
Finally, he urged swift implementation, warning that each state election should not result in delays of necessary debates and reforms.
