In a new report experts of the Scientific Service of the Bundestag express considerable doubts about the legality of the coalition plans to abolish the solos. There is a "very high risk" that the Federal Constitutional Court declared a survey of the solidarity surcharge from 2020 "unconstitutional", it says in the expertise.
Finance Minister Olaf Scholz wants to abolish the solidarity surcharge in 2021 for 90 percent of today's payers, the other ten percent complete. Another 6.5 percent should then pay him only partially. The Federal Cabinet has approved the bill of the SPD politician.
According to the report, the risk of unconstitutionality "affects any collection of the solidarity surcharge beyond 2019 - even if only from higher income groups and companies".
Altmaier calls for a watertight solution
In the 23-page report, the experts point out, inter alia, that the solidarity surcharge was introduced as a supplementary levy - in its present form to finance the follow-up costs of German unity. He also stands at least in a "political connection" to the Solidarity Pact. The Solidarity Pact II, which is intended to help the eastern German states to catch up economically, will expire at the end of the year.
A spokesman for Finance Minister Scholz said the bill had been reviewed for its constitutionality. There is therefore "no doubt" that this will continue to apply. Economics Minister Peter Altmaier in turn called for a constitutionally watertight solution. The CDU politician said: "I can only warn against taking the concerns, which are already from different sides, lightly." Altmaier had presented its own concept for a soli-end by 2026, which should relieve mainly medium-sized companies.
The members of the scientific service support the members with their expertise. Your statements are not official positions of the Bundestag.
