Spahn's criticism of wealth distribution receives widespread approval – "Billions are being given away"

The willingness of CDU parliamentary group leader Jens Spahn to draw political conclusions from the unequal distribution of wealth in Germany has been met with a positive response within the government. SPD General Secretary Tim Klüssendorf told the "Rheinische Post": "We have extreme injustice in Germany when it comes to the distribution of wealth. Every year, €400 billion is inherited in this country, of which only a very small portion is subject to tax. This creates a massive imbalance that we have been denouncing for years."

The chairman of the Christian Democratic Employees' Association (CDA), Dennis Radtke, told the "Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung" (NOZ): "Billions are given away every year in inheritance tax because there are exceptions that they can no longer explain to average earners. Therefore, we should not change the rates, but rather eliminate unjustified exceptions." Spahn had pointed out that a ruling from the Federal Constitutional Court on inheritance tax was expected and that the coalition might then amend the tax.

Spahn was the first conservative politician to acknowledge privileged status for the wealthy. "Those who already had always have more," the CDU politician said on the talk show "Maybrit Illner." "In recent years, especially during the low-interest-rate phase, we've had a situation where wealth has grown almost on its own without any major effort on our part. Real estate values, stock values, and more." Spahn added: "The distribution of wealth is a problem."

The current focus of the discussion is inheritance tax, where changes are easier to implement than the reintroduction of a wealth tax. Criticism came from the FDP, which is no longer represented in the Bundestag. Secretary General Nicole Büttner said: "An increase in inheritance tax would not only exacerbate the problems of our competitiveness, it would also affect company successions and thus burden jobs for the next generation." Spahn's willingness to implement such tax increases reveals "a complete rejection of the announced policy change."

Klüssendorf emphasized that an inheritance tax reform is not about the simple family home, as claimed by his political opponents. "Then the conservatives quickly say we're going after grandma's inherited house. That's nonsense. It's explicitly not about the middle class," said the SPD politician. It would only be fair if billionaires took responsibility and contributed to the costs for the community. "The fact that Jens Spahn is now also arguing along these lines gives me hope that together we can achieve something for more tax justice in this country."

CDA Chairman Radtke spoke out against a blanket increase in top income tax rates, which is also occasionally debated. "Many skilled workers in industry already pay the top tax rate, and not just the super-rich." Alternative models "with relief for the middle class and a moderate increase for top earners" must be developed.

dpa/fro