CSU Leader Söder Rules Out Relaxing Debt Brake - Söder shuts down debt brake reform and inheritance tax hikes in Germany
CSU leader Markus Söder has ruled out any relaxation of Germany's debt brake. While he said he did not want to preempt the findings of the federal government's commission on reforming the debt rule, speaking at his party's political Ash Wednesday rally in Passau, he made clear the CSU's position: "We will not weaken the debt brake—Germany's debt levels are high enough as it is."
The commission has been working on potential reforms to the debt brake since September. However, any changes would require a two-thirds majority in the Bundestag, as the rule is enshrined in the Basic Law.
Söder also dismissed the possibility of raising inheritance tax to ease budget pressures, vowing that it would not happen. "The inheritance tax is nothing but a tax on envy—it's pure class warfare," the CSU leader declared.
He reiterated his criticism of Germany's fiscal equalization system, under which Bavaria has long been the largest net contributor. It was time, he said, for recipient states "to finally move out of Mama and Papa Bavaria's house." The Bavarian minister-president insisted that either the system must be abolished or federalism itself must be reformed. Söder had previously called for reducing the number of federal states.
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