SPD wants tax reform and purchase premium for e-cars
Published: Sunday, Oct 13th 2024, 13:30
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Relief for 95% of taxpayers, a purchase premium for electric cars and a minimum wage of 15 euros: With a strategy paper on ending the economic slump, the SPD is setting the initial course for the 2025 federal election campaign. The concept, which is to be adopted this evening at the closed meeting of the party executive board, also provides for tax incentives for "Made in Germany", a reform of the debt brake and further measures to reduce electricity prices.
At its two-day closed meeting at the SPD headquarters in Berlin, the party leadership is preparing intensively for the first time for the Bundestag elections, which are currently scheduled to take place on September 28, 2025. The six-page draft resolution entitled "We are fighting for Germany's future: Boosting the economy, securing jobs, easing the burden on employees" has been submitted to the German Press Agency.
"Directional decision": Attacks against Merz-CDU
Issues from past European or state election campaigns, such as the war in Ukraine and migration, which were problematic for the SPD, hardly play a role. The party initially wants to focus on how the economic slump can be stopped so that as many people as possible can benefit from it. "A new upturn for Germany must serve everyone and not just a few. The 2025 federal election will also be about deciding on this direction," says the campaign paper, in which the SPD is fully committed to its brand essence as a workers' party.
Germany is in a "historic phase of upheaval". Especially in times when jobs are being cut and locations are being called into question, the SPD stands by the side of employees. "We are fighting for every single job."
The economic policy of the CDU under its chairman and chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz, on the other hand, is strongly exaggerated and sharply criticized in several places in the paper. "Anyone who insults employees in Germany as lazy and denies them good wages and secure pensions has lost respect for the true high performers who keep our country running every day with their hard work."
Key points: From income tax reform to electricity price cuts
These are the key points of the strategy paper:
- Fundamental income tax reform: The SPD wants to reduce the burden on 95% of taxpayers. The one percent at the top of the income scale are to pay for this. They are to be made "somewhat more responsible". "This will stimulate the economy from the bottom and from the middle of society."
- Benefits for "Made in Germany": The party does not want to promote investment in Germany by lowering corporate taxes because this would be "too narrowly targeted". Instead, it wants to "link comprehensive super write-offs and tax bonuses for companies to investments in future-oriented industries and good jobs in Germany".
- E-cars: The SPD is paying particular attention to the hard-hit German car industry, where thousands of jobs are at stake. In order to promote the sale of e-cars, a purchase premium is to be examined. The SPD also wants to introduce an e-car quota for leasing providers and provide tax incentives for electric company and company cars.
- Debt brake: In order to enable more investment in infrastructure, education or a climate-neutral and digital economy, the SPD continues to strive for a "targeted reform of the debt rules".
- Minimum wage: The SPD expects it to rise "gradually and swiftly" to 15 euros.
- Pensions: The party is once again insisting on the second pension package being passed this year, which is currently being held up by the FDP parliamentary group. "There is no longer any reason to delay or block the parliamentary decision in the Bundestag."
- Energy prices: The high electricity prices should be cushioned to a greater extent. The SPD Executive Board supports the expansion of electricity price compensation, particularly for the chemical and glass industries, and additional instruments to reduce grid fees.
Klingbeil calls for a "posture of the will to win"
SPD leader Klingbeil prepared his party for a tough election campaign even before the conference began. "The SPD needs a posture of the will to win," he told the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland.
The starting position is difficult. The SPD - currently the strongest governing party - is far behind the CDU/CSU in all polls and either on a par with or just behind the AfD at 16 to 17%. Klingbeil called on his party to "catch up". It is about "focusing on the question of who should lead this country in the future. The SPD or the Merz-CDU". Commenting on the poor poll results, he said: "I don't believe in miracles, but in hard work."
Chancellor candidate not to be nominated until June
Open personnel issues are not yet to be clarified at the conference. The SPD leadership has repeatedly made it clear that it wants to go back into the election campaign with Chancellor Olaf Scholz as its lead candidate. However, he will not be nominated until a party conference in June.
SPD parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich defended this approach. "Until then, Olaf Scholz can convince as Federal Chancellor with contour, prudence and integrity," he told the "Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung". "If I can help the Chancellor to show even more of his rough edges, then I will be happy to do so."
The SPD had already replaced its Secretary General at the beginning of the week. Kevin Kühnert, who resigned for health reasons, was replaced by Matthias Miersch, the former deputy parliamentary group leader.
©Keystone/SDA
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