In an interview, SPD chairwoman Klingbel proposed the total abolition of spousal separation for new marriages instead of saving parental allowances planned by Family Minister Lisa Bowes (Greens).
(Photo: IMAGO/Panama Photos)
Berlin Federal Chancellor Olaf Schulz (SPD) has relativized his party leader Lars Klimber’s initiative to abolish spousal separation.
Separation of spouses is a legal situation in Germany, but “of course there is always discussion about whether this is disproportionate, especially for people who earn several hundred thousand euros a year,” Scholz told citizens in Fussen on Thursday evening. Dialogue said Bavaria.
“But for ordinary earners, no one would suggest that the tax burden now gets worse. I believe that’s always important to sort the discussion out.”
In an interview, SPD chairwoman Klingbel proposed a general abolition of spousal separation for new marriages, regardless of income level, in place of the parental allowance savings planned by Family Minister Lisa Bowes (Greens).
“We are finally free from marriage breakdown. This will end the outdated tax model that favors the classic distribution of roles between men and women. And the state will save money,” Klingbel told the German editorial network (RND). The Greens were open to it, and the Liberal Democrats immediately rejected the proposal.
After the spouses separate, the joint income of the husband and wife is halved, the income tax payable is calculated, and the tax liability is doubled. This is especially useful for couples where one earns a lot and the other earns a little. In 1958, at the instigation of the Federal Constitutional Court, divorce was enshrined in the income tax law.
Scholz answers questions from journalists in the capital
Spousal separation is also likely to be discussed at the chancellor’s traditional summer press conference. On Friday (11:00 am), the SPD politician will answer questions from journalists in the capital for about 90 minutes, just days before his leave.
Among other things, this should have to do with the turmoil of the past few weeks in the traffic light coalition of the Social Democrats, Greens and Liberal Democrats and the poll highs for the AfD, which is currently in second place behind the Federal Party and ahead of the Social Democrats . But Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, shortly after the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, could also play a role.
Scholz will attend the EU-Latin America summit in Brussels early next week before heading to a “friendly European country” for a holiday. The resort is not yet known.
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