Live blog on the traffic light off: Merz calls for an immediate vote of confidence – Kukies becomes finance minister – politics

Although his coalition is history, Chancellor Olaf Scholz still wants to get important projects through parliament, even if he doesn’t have a majority without the FDP. He wants to put all bills to the vote by Christmas, which in his view “do not tolerate any delay.” It is uncertain whether Scholz will find a majority for this – especially since the projects are likely to cost a lot of money:

Tax relief: Even if their salary increase only compensates for inflation, citizens have to pay more to the tax authorities due to the increasing tax rate. Scholz wants this effect to be balanced out. To compensate, the outgoing Finance Minister Christian Lindner wanted to shift the basic allowance and the other key parameters of the tax rate so that higher tax rates only take effect later.

Pension package: Essentially, a stable pension level should be guaranteed and payments should keep pace with wage developments. However, due to the aging population, this is becoming increasingly expensive – which could lead to higher contributions for younger people. The coalition wants to cushion this predicted increase in contributions by investing money in the stock market.

Asylum policy: Scholz wants to implement the rules of the Common European Asylum System. The reform includes, among other things, an obligation to check the identity of arrivals. Asylum seekers with an EU-wide protection rate of less than 20 percent should go through their procedure at the EU’s external border.

Help for industry: Scholz wants to implement “immediate measures”. The network fees for companies should be capped and a package should be put together that secures jobs in the automotive industry and in the many supplier companies. New funding measures would be conceivable to boost sales of electric cars.

defense: There needs to be clarity, said Scholz, “how we can finance our security and defense solidly in the coming years without jeopardizing cohesion in the country.” He wanted to talk about this with CDU leader Friedrich Merz. Whether the Bundestag Scholz did not say that he should deal with this before Christmas.