SPD chairman Lars Klingbeil stated that a comprehensive income‑tax reform will be the central condition for any negotiations with the Union. “There will be no reform package for us if it isn’t included” he told the NTV show ”Pinar Atalay” on Monday. The aim is to give tangible relief to people earning between €3 000 and €4 000 a month, while also making top earners in the country take more responsibility.
Klingbeil highlighted rising everyday costs and growing insecurity for many workers. “Life has become more expensive for ordinary people in this country” he said. “Sometimes the mere fact that a washing machine breaks can push many into distress”. He warned that the SPD will conduct “very hard negotiations” with the Union. “We want to ensure that people who toil every day have more money in their pockets – and we will fight for that now” he added.
Despite the so‑called “catastrophic” election results, Klingbeil urged Merz not to worry about his coalition partner: “I didn’t get the impression he was worried about me. It would be nice if he did, and it would be humane. But you need not worry about me”. Instead, the government now faces a “difficult job to accomplish” noting that the reform package is a key part of that task.
