Chancellor Merz categorically rejects any proposed tax hikes
In a recent development, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has announced a new election for judges at the Federal Constitutional Court, following the failure of the previous attempt in July. The election process, Merz admitted, has been "quite difficult" due to the necessary two-thirds majority in the Bundestag.
The initial election, which took place in July, was unsuccessful as parts of the Union faction rejected the candidate proposed by the SPD, Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf. This rejection led to Brosius-Gersdorf withdrawing her candidacy.
The SPD, in response, has chosen a new female candidate for the position. However, her identity remains a secret until negotiations with the Union, Greens, and Left Party conclude. The Union, on the other hand, has expressed "significant reservations" against the election of Brosius-Gersdorf, and it remains to be seen if they will support the SPD's new candidate.
Meanwhile, the tax plans of the new coalition are also under discussion. Chancellor Merz has ruled out tax increases, a stance that opposes that of his coalition partner, SPD Vice-Chancellor Lars Klingbeil. Klingbeil, while not taking tax increases off the table entirely, has not ruled out the possibility of increased taxes for the wealthy.
This debate over tax increases is closely tied to the election of constitutional judges. The Union has previously rejected tax increases, stating that Germany is already a high-tax country. The two-thirds majority required for the judge election in the Bundestag remains unresolved, as the Union and SPD cannot reach the necessary number of votes even with the Greens.
The failure of the previous election of constitutional judges has left a significant gap in the court. Chancellor Merz's confirmation of the new election attempt is conditional on the hope that this time it will succeed. Merz and CSU leader Markus Söder have not signed a coalition agreement with tax increases, and Merz told the ZDF that it's acceptable for the SPD to have different views on tax increases.
In a recent statement, Klingbeil mentioned that CSU leader Söder had contributed to making a hole in the budget bigger. This comment adds another layer of complexity to the already tense relationship between the coalition partners.
As the election of new federal constitutional judges and the tax plans of the new coalition continue to be debated, the future of Germany's political landscape remains uncertain. The public will be eagerly awaiting the outcome of the negotiations and the identity of the SPD's new candidate for the Federal Constitutional Court election.
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