Finance Minister Lindner promises relief of more than 30 billion euros

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Christian Lindner: Wants to be careful with tax money

Photo: Michael Kappeler / dpa

According to the will of Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner, citizens, but also companies, should benefit from extensive tax relief during the legislative period.

Specifically, the FDP politician has promised relief of more than 30 billion euros for the coming years.

"The budget for 2022 is still shaped by the previous government, but my draft for 2023 will contain relief," said Lindner of "Bild am Sonntag".

For example, you will then be able to fully deduct the contributions to the pension insurance from tax.

The EEG surcharge on the electricity price will be abolished.

Lindner wants to save on the new government terminal at BER

"In this legislative period, we will relieve people and medium-sized businesses by significantly more than 30 billion euros," said Lindner. In response to a question about companies affected by the corona crisis, he announced a »Corona tax law«. "A number of aid measures will be created or expanded." For example, losses in 2022 and 2023 would have to be offset against profits from previous years. "Nobody should be ruined by tax debts during the pandemic."

Lindner warned the other ministers of the traffic light government to be thrifty. "The leeway is tight in 2022." He asked his cabinet colleagues to "prioritize their projects and review previous expenditures." The regular debt brake should apply from 2023 on. "So only the prosperity that was previously generated can be distributed."

Lindner also called for the planned construction of a representative government terminal at the capital city airport BER to be abandoned.

“I do not consider a new representative building for state guests and ministers to be necessary.

I hope that the Foreign Office, headed by the Green politician Annalena Baerbock, will change its previous opinion. «The previous transitional building could be used permanently.

"A waiver would be the signal that we are careful with taxpayers' money."

apr / dpa