Berlin – The future head of the Chancellery, Thorsten Frei (CDU), expects tax relief for small and medium-sized businesses starting in 2027. "We must now quickly return to the path of economic growth in order to create the necessary leeway," the CDU politician told the newspapers of the Funke media group (Wednesday editions). "Then we will implement the tax cuts for small and medium-sized incomes halfway through the legislative period." This is the firm intention of the CDU and SPD. "I am confident that this relief will come as planned," Frei reiterated. Frei, however, clearly rejected tax increases: "We agreed on this in the coalition negotiations. We must regain the competitiveness of the German economy; tax increases would be poisonous in this regard." Frei also announced radical reforms in health care, long-term care, and pensions. These reforms would inevitably result in burdens for all generations: The burdens of demographic change cannot be placed on one generation alone. "True intergenerational equity" is needed to secure the social systems. "Everyone" must contribute, Frei said. Asked whether the current generation of retirees would also be affected by cuts, Frei said: "In principle, this generation must also make its contribution, taking due account of their lifetime achievements." However, this generation is the least able to adapt to changes. Therefore, their contribution must be handled most responsibly. Young people, on the other hand, still have the opportunity to adapt their lives to the challenges ahead. He advised the younger generation to "establish sufficient private security."
