Saarland Premier Rehlinger Rejects VAT Hike, Pushes for Fairer Tax Reforms
Anke Rehlinger, the SPD state premier of Saarland, has spoken out against potential plans to raise value-added tax (VAT). She warned that such a move would push up living costs for ordinary citizens. Her comments come ahead of an SPD conference this Friday, where the party will set out its reform agenda for the coming months. Rehlinger made clear her opposition to any VAT increase, stating she had serious misgivings about the idea. It would only make life even more expensive for everyone than it already is, she argued. No recent debates or proposals in the Bundestag have suggested raising the standard VAT rate, which remains unchanged at 19%.
On taxation, Rehlinger supports easing the burden for 95% of taxpayers while increasing contributions from the highest earners. She backs Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil's plan to abolish joint taxation for married couples (*Ehegattensplitting*), arguing that current benefits should be preserved. *The key point is that those who currently benefit from it should be allowed to keep those benefits,* she said. She also called for a fairer inheritance tax system. *It's unfair that someone inheriting a few hundred thousand euros pays a far higher percentage in taxes than someone inheriting tens of millions,* she explained. Adjusting this, she added, would be about *enforcing fair taxation, not raising taxes.*
Rehlinger's stance highlights the SPD's focus on tax reform without adding to everyday costs. The party's upcoming conference will clarify its priorities, including changes to inheritance tax and married couples' taxation. No official push for a VAT hike has emerged from the SPD leadership or recent debates.
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