The sister parties CDU and CSU are currently in disagreement on tax cuts.
Söder now contradicts Laschet and recalls the current election platform.
Munich - With his statements in the ARD summer interview, Armin Laschet causes discussions.
The CDU's candidate for chancellor had recently rejected tax cuts on Sunday (July 11th).
"The basic message is: tax breaks at the moment, we don't have the money," said Laschet.
There is also not a single tax relief in the Union's election manifesto.
There is “not the time” for that.
Markus Söder (CSU): Tax cuts as the "heart"
The problem: Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) wants to quickly implement tax cuts after the federal election.
In the
Süddeutsche Zeitung he
said that it was "the heart of our tax policy." A clear contradiction to the statements of Laschet on the part of the sister party.
Markus Söder found clear words on Tuesday (July 13th) and recalled the current election manifesto: “The election manifesto applies to both parties.” That would also include gradual tax breaks.
Söder explained: "That means: After the election, an opening financial statement, and then priorities are set."
The economy can only be supported “only through tax cuts” - it is “the central element of the entire economic policy of the Union”, said Söder.
The program also provides for the abolition of the solidarity surcharge and a reduced corporate tax to 25 percent.
Will Laschet withdraw his statements?
For the CSU, the subject of tax cuts is a "top priority" that also distinguishes it from other parties. In particular by the Greens, who are seen as the greatest competitor in the battle for votes. "Tax relief is the basic philosophy of the Union - that is the difference to the political left: Greens want to increase taxes, we want to reduce them," added the Prime Minister again in the
SZ
. There it is said that party circles have heard that the CSU leadership is assuming that Laschet will withdraw his tax statements before the Söder-Laschet meeting in the Seeon monastery.
The internal quarrel between the sister parties has meanwhile also preoccupied the opposition. SPD leader Norbert Walter-Borjans accused Union Chancellor candidate Armin Laschet of
confusing statements
in the
Augsburger Allgemeine
on Tuesday (July 13th). "Today Armin Laschet suddenly says: there is no tax cut or tax increase, he has probably recalculated what the CDU and CSU have promised their clientele in the meantime," said Walter-Borjans. "Armin Laschet presents cabbage and beets, there can be no question of a concept for him." For example, the CDU and CSU's election manifestos called for the abolition of the solidarity surcharge, but Laschet rejected tax cuts.
Laschet and Söder will meet this Thursday (July 15) at the CSU retreat in Seeon Abbey. They'll also talk about the exact tax plans there. CSU General Secretary Markus Blume called the meeting aptly “warm-up program for the election campaign”.
