CDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann has indicated that an expansion of the so-called wealth tax cannot be ruled out. However, he emphasized that the “SMEs and traditional crafts” must not be burdened. Responding to questions about raising the top tax rate from 45 percent to 47 percent, Linnemann stated that he “cannot exclude that” and that a compromise would be necessary. He stressed, however, that he was “very firm” in his assertion that small and medium enterprises and craftsmen must be protected, expressing concern that these sectors would “be marginalized” under the kind of “strong redistribution” advocated by the SPD.
Furthermore, Linnemann challenged the SPD boss Bärbel Bas’ proposal for €500 in relief for small and medium incomes, asserting that any such measure must be co-financed. If it cannot be financed, he called it “unserious.” To fund these measures, he suggested the government should begin by cutting its own expenses. He proposed that ministries should cut at least one percent of their budgets, adding that three percent would be feasible and would generate billions of euros.
