Bundesfinanzminister Lars Klingbeil (SPD) has received both support and criticism from within his own party and from the opposition for his proposal to replace the marital‑splitting tax scheme.
“Were it not for the years of the gender‑role model that saw the man earn money and the woman take on unpaid care work, the marital‑splitting rule would have dragged countless women into part‑time employment” said SPD deputy faction leader Wiebke Esdar in an interview with the “Tagesspiegel” on Friday. “It’s good that Lars Klingbeil finally has the courage to tackle this outdated system” she added.
Esdar also admitted that the proposals fall short. “A single tax reform won’t get women out of the part‑time trap” she said. As long as parents are forced to fight for childcare spots every morning and fill gaps in care provision, little will change. “As a working mother I know how exhausting this daily juggling act is” she explained. “If we expect more paid work, we must create infrastructure that makes it possible-reliable daycares, quality full‑day care, and flexible hours”.
The Green Party and the Left have long argued for reforming the marital‑splitting system, but even they view Klingbeil’s plans as insufficient. “Those who want to escape the part‑time trap also need relief from caregiving burdens, meaning substantial investment in daycares and care services” said Doris Achwelwilm, the Left’s spokesperson on tax policy. The statements of this type would not, however, come from the Union or the SPD, according to the newspaper. Still, many want to scrutinise Klingbeil’s proposals, especially in terms of distributional and gender equity.