In the crisis, the state spends billions on rescuing companies. But where should the money come from? Friedrich Merz suggests that subsidies and social transfer payments be put to the test.
Berlin (dpa) - The candidate for the CDU chairmanship, Friedrich Merz, wants to rethink the state's expenditure because of the corona crisis.
"After the acute crisis, we should put all government, state and local government services to the test," said Merz of the "Passauer Neue Presse". This applies to subsidies as well as to social transfer payments.
He doesn't think much of tax increases such as the SPD brought into play: "Anyone who demands tax increases in this situation strikes another coffin nail on the future viability of German companies," said Merz. SPD leader Saskia Esken, on the other hand, is pushing for a higher burden on high incomes so that the state can repay debts incurred in the corona crisis. A levy on assets is no longer a taboo in the debate, she told the editorial network Germany (RND).
Merz asked to help companies that have proven that they operate successful business models. This would require "the possibility of tax loss carryforwards and tax loss carryforwards". Merz believes that companies could offset current losses against profits from the past two years and next year. Merz says that money is currently being poured out with the watering can - even for companies that were in a difficult situation before the crisis.
