Bavarian Minister-President Markus Söder (CSU) has stated his position on the future financial policies of the black-red federal government. Amid ongoing disputes over the government’s finances, Söder strongly adheres to the principle of the debt brake, rejecting any proposal to weaken the established fiscal limits. Instead, he is calling for substantial tax reductions and measures designed to relieve the pressure on the middle class.
Telling “Bild am Sonntag”, Söder argued that the nation has accumulated sufficient debt and suggested that the state must manage its operations using existing financial resources. He voiced his strong opposition to any weakening of the debt brake, particularly if it were used to fund further social spending, such as establishing a successor benefit to the current Bürgergeld system, calling such measures unserious.
Söder also expressed skepticism regarding unstated plans within the governing coalition to fill perceived budget gaps by raising contributions from high-earning individuals. His central aim, he stated, is to achieve both relief and simplification within the tax structure. According to him, a major tax overhaul must include the outright abolition of the electricity tax. Regarding personal income tax, his principle remains clear: the middle class must be relieved of burdens, not further taxed. Ultimately, Söder stressed that any comprehensive reform must be bound into a coherent concept that includes the permanent removal of the Solidarity Surcharge (Soli).
