Budget: Union wants to overturn plastic tax - SPD calls for new sources of finance
Before the final budget discussions there is a risk of a financing gap of around 670 million euros because the Union rejects the planned plastic tax.
Quick Look
- The Union plans to overturn the planned plastic tax, which will create a gap of around 670 million euros in the federal budget.
- The SPD is now demanding alternative proposals from its coalition partner to secure the budget by Thursday.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The plastic tax was agreed in the coalition committee in the spring in order to secure not only ecological effects but also the budget.
The final discussions on the federal budget are pending. But now there is a gap on the revenue side. Because the Union wants to bury the planned plastic tax. “We are not doing the plastic tax because it would have a false impact, not only economically, but also ecologically,” said Union faction leader Thorsten Frei on the ZDF program “Berlin Direkt.”
The SPD is calling for alternative proposals. “Solid financial policy, especially in these years and these days, is crucial, and that is why the Union has an obligation to make other proposals,” said Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider on Deutschlandfunk.
By Thursday, the Union must present ideas “on how to close the hole in the budget that we have,” said the SPD politician. The plastic tax was agreed in the coalition committee in the spring. In addition to the ecological aspect, it is also primarily about securing the budget.
The so-called adjustment meeting of the Budget Committee will take place on Thursday. There, the budget experts are putting the finishing touches to the budget for 2027, which will then be voted on in the Bundestag.
Hundreds of millions of euros are missing
If the plastic tax does not come, a gap of around 670 million euros will have to be closed due to the lack of expected tax revenue.
On Sunday, CDU financial expert Matthias Middelberg and SPD parliamentary group leader Matthias Miersch referred to ongoing discussions within the coalition on ARD.
“We want the whole thing to be targeted so that there is also a steering effect and of course this has to be discussed in parliament,” Miersch said on ARD. »There is a first draft and to that extent everything is not off the table. But of course we as parliamentarians have an obligation to see whether everything is going in the right direction and to that extent we discuss it."
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The Union must submit alternative proposals for budget financing
Very likely · Within days
Clean-up meeting of the Budget Committee takes place
Very likely · Within days
Open Questions
- How does the Union plan to close the 670 million euro hole in the budget?
- What consequences does the end of the plastic tax have for the coalition?
