German election 2025: Parties present campaign platforms

Germany's political parties have begun presenting their draft election manifestos ahead of the snap election in February 2025. They focus on income, the economy and jobs.

Germany's center-right bloc of Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its Bavarian sister party Christian Social Union (CSU) has unanimously voted in favor of an election program that promises to lower taxes and stop illegal migration.

The CDU/CSU wants to reduce income tax and gradually lower taxes for companies to 25%. It promises not to cut old age pensions and plans to encourage those who want to continue working beyond retirement age of 67, allowing them to earn up to €2,000 ($2,100) per month tax-free on top of their pension.

The problem: The bold ideas of CDU chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz will cost billions of euros, and will be extremely hard to implement if the CDU/CSU refuses to ease the "debt brake." Enshrined in  Germany's Basic Law, the brake limits fresh debt to a maximum of 0.35% of economic output (GDP).

Although he himself is not popular with the electorate, Merz's party is currently significantly ahead in opinion polls, and he has a good chance of becoming the next chancellor after the snap election on February 23.

Social Democrats: boost investment, increase public debt

The Social Democrats (SPD) want to reform the debt brake in order to make billions of euros available for urgently needed investments, for example in the ailing infrastructure. The party is also focusing on tax incentives for companies hoping to increase investment.

In line with its message to low-income voters, the SPD wants the super-rich with assets of more than €100 million to pay a wealth tax. In the Bundestag this week, Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced that he would raise the statutory minimum wage once again: "In the last election campaign, I promised a minimum wage of €12, and I have kept that promise. That's why I'm fighting for a €15 minimum wage in the next federal election."

Greens: Not just climate protection

In the past three years of government, the Greens have been facing criticism over their climate protection plans. Now the party has scaled back its demands to reduce greenhouse gases compared to the 2021 election campaign.

The Greens also want to reform the debt brake, introduce subsidies for electric cars, and propose a new "citizens' fund" to secure pensions. This fund should also be fed with state money. And they want a billionaire's tax, as vice-chancellor and leading candidate Robert Habeck said in an interview with the tabloid Bild.

According to expert estimates, there are currently 249 billionaires in Germany: "If you taxed a small proportion of their wealth, you would have around five to six billion euros," was Habeck's calculation. He said this money could be invested in education.