The Minister-President of Mecklenburg‑Vorpommern, Manuela Schwesig (SPD), said she is firmly against raising the value‑added tax to pay for other tax cuts. “I consider an increase in VAT poison and I reject it outright” she told RTL and ntv. She added that many everyday goods have already become too expensive, and that workers are under pressure from steep rents, high food prices and rising fuel costs. “Prices should not rise-instead, items such as fuel should urgently fall”.
Schwesig favours a lower tax rate for incomes up to 3 000 €, and a higher top tax rate that would apply only to higher incomes. “That way, truly high‑earning people, those with substantial wealth, would make a contribution”. She criticised CSU leader Markus Söder for his refusal to lift the top rate. “Those who, over recent weeks and months, have urged reforms-including Söder-should not automatically say ‘no’ to every proposal” she said. She stressed that any tax reform must be fair and just.