The Bundesverband Großhandel, Außenhandel, Dienstleistungen (BGA) contends that the income tax proposals put forward by Federal Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD) are poised to cause massive job losses across Germany’s Mittelstand (mid-sized businesses). BGA President Dirk Jandura told the “Bild-Zeitung” (Saturday edition) that, “It is obvious to the Finance Minister that the German Mittelstand and its jobs do not matter. What Lars Klingbeil has presented is not an income tax reform; it is the SPD toll for the German Mittelstand. It is a real job killer.”
Jandura further expressed disbelief, stating that it was “completely ridiculous” for the SPD Finance Minister to consider placing additional burdens on partnerships during the seventh year of the ongoing economic crisis. The BGA President noted that businesses in the Mittelstand are already grappling with “record government debts and record taxes for private companies,” compounded by the current state budget and a proliferation of new tax hikes.
Jandura concluded by asserting that any potential savings would either be nonexistent or limited only to those who fall within the party’s own voter base. He remarked, “Whoever dreams of a country without entrepreneurs but full of civil servants should be happy right now.”
