A clear majority of Germans would support higher taxes for top earners, according to the latest DeutschlandTrend survey from ARD. In total, 65 percent of the population want to see higher taxes for high earners.
The sentiment extends across party lines. Even among supporters of the centre-right CDU/CSU (Union), 66 percent approve of such tax increases.
Public enthusiasm is also high when it comes to taxing large inheritances. More than half (51 percent) of all respondents – including 51 percent of Union voters – back increased inheritance taxes to help balance the national budget and address social inequalities.
This puts public opinion at odds with the current federal leadership. Chancellor Friedrich Merz and the CDU/CSU bloc have repeatedly and firmly rejected any increases in income or inheritance taxes, citing the coalition agreement with the SPD which explicitly rules out new tax hikes.
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Still, the SPD – the junior partner in Germany’s governing coalition – remains in favour of targeting greater contributions from high earners and large estates, seizing on broad support in the electorate and pushing for a rethink as Germany faces a multi-billion-euro budget hole.
Tax cuts as well as tax hikes
To complicate matters, the survey data actually reveals a more complex picture of German attitudes to tax policy. In several areas, clear majorities are in favour of lower taxes for certain groups.
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Roughly 80 percent of respondents approve of tax relief on overtime pay, for example. A similar number supports tax incentives for employees who continue to work beyond retirement age.
An unhappy electorate
The DeutchlandTrend survey also reveals a serious loss of confidence in the current government. Only 22 percent of Germans are currently satisfied with the coalition's work, representing a historic low and a dramatic fall in just the law few months. In June, the figure was 40 percent.
Economic insecurity is high, with unemployment having just topped three million for the first time since 2015, and worries about the long-term economy and living standards are widespread. Nonetheless, most people – about 80 percent – feel secure in their own jobs.
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An overwhelming majority of Germans – 86 percent – also support the introduction of stricter sanctions for recipients of benefits such as Germany’s citizens’ income (Bürgergeld) who fail to comply with eligibility requirements.
Politically, the conservative CDU still leads with 27 percent support, ahead of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) on 25 percent. The SPD polls at 14 percent, with the Greens and Left party both around 10–11 percent.
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