Mario Voigt, the Minister-President of Thuringia and a member of the CDU, has called on both federal and state governments to take immediate action in light of the country’s unemployment figure of more than three million people.
He said in an interview with the “Bild” (Friday edition) that the number of unemployed is not a sign of weakness but a clear mandate to set the right course for growth, investment and employment. “The fight against the high unemployment rate must therefore be priority number one in all policy areas” he emphasized.
Voigt warned that the necessary changes should not be self‑blocking. He called for a decisive “push” that would ease investment, make work more attractive, and safeguard competitiveness. The planned reduction of corporate taxes must “be spearheaded and complemented by additional relief measures”. He also stressed that the tax burden on workers should be taken into account, arguing that a healthy economy is built on both companies and employees.
Specifically, Voigt urged a reduction of income tax where it is financially feasible, alongside a noticeable simplification of the tax system: fewer exemptions, fewer proof obligations, and greater planning security. He also demanded the rapid reduction of the electricity tax to match the European minimum for all consumers.
In the eastern German states, he proposed temporarily suspending unnecessary federal regulations that hamper growth and innovation, creating a targeted acceleration of development.
Additionally, Voigt called for approval times to be halved in pilot regions within two years, thereby creating a reform model that could later be rolled out nationwide.