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Hesse’s Prime Minister Boris Rhein sharply criticizes economic policy at the federal level. (Archive image) © Arne Dedert/dpa
Hesse’s Prime Minister Rhein considers the federal government’s economic policy to be “catastrophic”. What would he do differently?
Düsseldorf – Hesse’s Prime Minister Boris Rhein sharply criticizes the federal government’s economic policy and calls for the solidarity surcharge for companies to be abolished. The states’ tax revenues are falling massively, the CDU politician told the “Rheinische Post” (Saturday). Rhein attributed this to a “catastrophic economic policy by the federal government” and called for the federal government to quickly change course. Less money is needed for social benefits and more relief for companies – for example “by abolishing solidarity for companies”.
Since 2021, only high earners and companies have had to pay the solidarity surcharge. The FDP has been criticizing this for a long time: they want to see it completely abolished. Several FDP members of the Bundestag went to Karlsruhe against the solidarity when their party was not yet part of the federal government. However, Federal Finance Minister Lindner has firmly budgeted for solidarity income of 12.75 billion euros for the coming year. If the Constitutional Court overturns the award, it would tear a hole in the budget for 2025.
