Following the cancellation of the planned 1,000 Euro bonus intended to relieve the burden on employees, the Union faction has also questioned the means chosen to offset the lost funding-specifically, a proposed increase in the tobacco tax. During an interview with “Bild” the union’s spokesperson for financial policy, Fritz Güntzler, stated that since the relief premium is no longer available, the method of counter-financing must be honestly reassessed.
The hike of the tobacco tax, previously scheduled for September 1st, was intended to cover the costs of the 1,000 Euro wage bonus. Güntzler issued a warning against placing additional burdens on consumers. According to the spokesperson, “We must be careful not to pile on multiple financial burdens within a few short weeks”. He added that a dual increase in the tobacco tax in such a short timeframe targets consumers disproportionately and sets false economic signals. Furthermore, he cautioned that this approach could inadvertently “create a revenue stream that supports organized cigarette smuggling”.
Güntzler concluded by arguing that tax policy demands “discretion, reliability, and good timing”. For these reasons, he suggested shelving the immediate tobacco tax increase and adopting a calm reassessment of the overall fiscal situation.
The reluctance to abandon these tax increases was echoed by Reiner Holznagel, president of the Federal Taxpayers’ Federation. Speaking to “Bild” Holznagel criticized the persistence of the tax hikes, noting the inconsistency: “A remarkable development is occurring: the tax- and levy-free 1,000 Euro energy bonus is not coming, yet the counter-financing via higher tobacco taxes still is”. He observed that the citizen loses the promised financial relief, only to see the state retain additional levies used for budget stabilization. “This creates the impression that genuine relief is never the goal; the primary objective is always generating new revenue for the state”.