Significant discontent is growing within the CDU/CSU parliamentary group regarding the federal government’s tax proposals. Reports indicate that approximately twenty deputies from the CDU and CSU are opposed to the current plans.
The opposition covers several policy areas. For instance, during a meeting of the group’s Agricultural Working Group, all twelve members unanimously voiced their opposition to the introduction of a sugar tax. This tax proposal is particularly controversial, especially since some members argue that increased taxation was ruled out in the coalition agreement.
Within the Finance Working Group, numerous members criticized the government for only planning a partial reduction of “cold progression” in the coming year, insisting instead on a complete elimination. Florian Dorn, a CSU deputy and financial policy expert, told “Bild” that the current plans for income tax reform were “embarrassing and too minor.” Meanwhile, CDU finance policy expert Olav Gutting reportedly stated during the meeting, “I won’t do this anymore,” according to accounts from attendees cited by “Bild”.
Beyond these specific issues, many fiscal policy experts within the Union parliamentary group also criticize the tax plans as fundamentally inadequate. Andreas Mattfeldt, a CDU deputy and household policy expert, told the newspaper that Federal Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD) appears to be perpetually seeking further sources of revenue, even as tax income is rising. He argues that this search leads to questionable structures, such as the sugar tax, which, according to him, should even be applied to drinks containing sweeteners. Mattfeldt concluded, calling such measures “unexplainable to the people.”
