CDU/CSU lawmakers openly reject government’s proposed sugar tax and tax reforms
Members of the CDU/CSU parliamentary groups on finance and agriculture have voted against the federal government’s planned sugar tax and broader tax reforms.
Resistance is growing within the Union as CDU/CSU parliamentarians confront the federal government’s tax agenda. In the agriculture working group, every one of the twelve attending members rejected the planned sugar levy, arguing it violates the party’s pledge to avoid tax hikes. The finance working group echoed this dissent, with members describing the reforms as “embarrassing” and “too modest.”
CSU finance politician Florian Dorn labeled the income-tax overhaul as such, while CDU members Olav Gutting and Andreas Mattfeldt attacked Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil’s approach, saying he continually looks for additional citizen burdens. Even faction leader Thorsten Frei was reportedly informed that the group would not support the sugar tax. The internal clash signals a potential rift that could threaten coalition cohesion.
How this story developed
- Sep 6 AfD poised for historic win as Saxony-Anhalt election draws massive voter turnout
- Sep 6 The CDU publicly acknowledges a severe loss in the Saxony‑Anhalt election.
- Sep 7 Final seat projections released showing AfD with 39 seats and CDU with 16 seats.
- Sep 7 Final results confirm the Landtag has 83 members, the CDU holds 15 seats and the BSW secured five seats while signalling willingness to cooperate on selected issues.
- Sep 8 Günter Krings, a member of the German Bundestag, described the recent Saxony-Anhalt vote as far worse than expected, with the AfD securing 43.8% of the ballots. He argued the CDU should not entertain discussions about replacing Chancellor Friedrich Merz so soon after the far-right's victory. Krings urged the party to focus on rebuilding its credibility and blamed EU decisions for part of voter anger. The CDU’s share fell to 17.2%, roughly half of its previous support.
- Sep 9 Former US president Donald Trump praised the Alternative for Germany (AfD) after its impressive result in Saxony-Anhalt, blaming the country's immigration policies.
- Sep 9 Trump posted a congratulatory message to the AfD on Truth Social after the Saxony‑Anhalt results.
- Sep 9 Merz and AfD leader Alice Weidel clashed in a Bundestag budget debate following the Saxony‑Anhalt result.
- Sep 10 A new Insa poll shows the CDU sliding sharply in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, while the SPD narrows the gap with the AfD and smaller parties risk missing the threshold.
- Sep 10 Claudia Obert resigned from the CDU and Tino Schomann publicly demanded Merz’s resignation.
- Sep 11 Only the BSW agreed to talks as all other parties declined, and Chancellor Merz rebuked Donald Trump’s congratulatory post.
- Sep 11 A new poll confirms the AfD’s continued lead while the CDU’s support keeps slipping.
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