Markus Söder, the Minister-President of Bavaria and head of the CSU, has called for a sweeping tax and social reform package. “We need a new Agenda 2010, in other words a kind of Agenda 2030” he told Bayern Media Group (Wednesday edition), referring to former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder’s agenda reforms. “The last major social reforms in this country were launched under Gerhard Schröder. Today we urgently need a similar reform package again”.
Söder also outlined major changes for the tax system. He said the income tax must be lowered for the broad middle class, that the corporate tax reform should be accelerated, and that inheritance tax should be regionalised for SMEs and family businesses.
At the same time, Söder stresses the need for more work. “More work generates more output – this year two holidays fall on a weekend, which noticeably boosts economic growth. An extra hour of work per week – roughly twelve minutes per weekday – is not excessive. It could lift economic growth by almost three percent” he explained. He also warned that each state election should not lead to delays in necessary debates and reforms, urging rapid implementation of these measures.