In the final TV debate before the German federal election, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and CDU’s Friedrich Merz, the candidate for the position of Chancellor, discussed issues such as the citizen’s income and the value-added tax.
Scholz expressed his support for reducing the indirect tax. “Initially, I would like to reduce the value-added tax on food in supermarkets” he said. “That’s not much for those who earn a lot, but for those who have very little and need to be very precise with their budget, it’s a form of support for daily purchases.”
Merz, on the other hand, did not rule out an increase in the value-added tax, stating that it would not be the right approach. “We will likely be conducting coalition negotiations” he said and instead advocated for a reduction in direct taxes for companies.
During the discussion on the citizen’s income, the CDU politician advocated for a name change and for harsher penalties for those who reject job offers. “We should tell a jobless individual, ‘This and that and that job is available and if he doesn’t accept it, we can assume he can earn a living elsewhere,'” he said.
Scholz also expressed support for penalties, stating, “We must ensure that people who reject concrete job offers can be addressed by us with harsh measures.” He added that the necessary laws are already in the German parliament and can be passed.
However, Scholz did not find Merz’s proposal feasible. To prove that someone is not willing to work, one would need to spend more money and publicly offer them job opportunities, he argued. The SPD politician also pointed out that benefits can only be reduced to a certain extent, as they are limited by the constitutional court’s guidelines on the level of benefits.
Regarding the radicalization of extremists, both Scholz and Merz advocated for closer cooperation between authorities. “We cannot rule out the possibility in every individual case, but a much more comprehensive surveillance, for example of social networks and a seamless data exchange between authorities, can set early warning signs” said Merz. “We still have too much data protection, even between authorities, in my opinion.”
Scholz agreed with his opponent, stating, “I also support data exchange. The laws, by the way, are largely in the German parliament and can be passed.