In the discussion about the future of spouse splitting, Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) rejects all changes. “That will not happen in this election period of the German Bundestag,” Lindner said Bavarian radio on the weekend. He pointed out that there was no corresponding agreement in the coalition agreement. In addition, according to Lindner, “the working middle” of society in Germany should not be further burdened. This is a new dispute between the traffic light parties – because the SPD and the Greens are increasingly calling for a change in this tax law.
The Prime Minister of Lower Saxony, Stephan Weil (SPD), pointed out that the regulation “derives from the Adenauer era” and assumes “that the woman is at home and takes care of the home, stove and child while the man raises the family income “, like Weil. “This attitude has changed radically.”
Spouse splitting has existed in Germany since 1958. It stipulates that the income of spouses is treated jointly for tax purposes. This is particularly advantageous when one of the partners – in reality this is usually the man – earns significantly more than the other. Critics have long complained that this construct cements old role models and stands in the way of women’s financial independence.
Weil said women and men should have equal rights in work and family life. In addition, there are many “extraordinarily stable” partnerships without a marriage certificate. “Therefore, the question is justified as to whether this tax regulation is still up to date.”
SPD leader Lars Klingbeil had previously called for this practice to be abolished for all future marriages. The tax model is “antiquated”. According to Klingbeil, the savings should be used to reverse the cancellation of parental allowance – a step that Family Minister Lisa Paus recently announced for couples who earn more than 150,000 euros a year together. Paus justified this in turn with the savings targets of the Federal Minister of Finance Lindner.
Support for Klingbeil’s demand for an end to marriage splitting came immediately from the ranks of the Greens, specifically from party leader Ricarda Lang. The left and trade unions also spoke out in favor of it. SPD Development Minister Svenja Schulze wrote on Twitter that spouse splitting belongs “in the mothball”. The traffic light is doing feminist development policy worldwide, “so we have to strengthen gender equality in Germany, too.”
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) had already commented on the subject on Friday, but he remained vague: it was important to him that the traffic light government was based on what was in the coalition agreement. “That’s the yardstick, we still have a lot to do.”