“The rapid exploratory talks must now follow seriously guided coalition negotiations and a quick government formation. It’s time to act, ”says HDE President Alexander von Preen. With their agreement on the reduction of energy costs for all industries, the CDU, CSU and SPD also laid the foundation for noticeable relief. “The still high energy costs make the retail trade considerably. Therefore, we have long campaigned for the electricity tax to be lowered not only for selected industries, but for everyone. This step is overdue, ”continued von Preen.
The HDE also evaluates the planned corporate tax reform and the commitment to reducing bureaucracy. “Instead of constantly new regulations, there must be more confidence in the entrepreneurs in the future. Less bureaucracy and more responsibility for entrepreneurs are the right approach here, ”emphasizes Von Preen.
In view of the renewed debate on political targets for the development of the minimum wage, the HDE warns against further interventions in the work of the independent minimum wage commission, which could lead to irreversible damage to collective bargaining. “The minimum wage commission becomes more and more about the fig leaf of politics through a political goal of 15 euros per hour in 2026,” said von Preen. As already in 2022, negotiated wages of the social partners would simply be displaced and stamped as inappropriate by politics. “This must not flow into the future coalition agreement,” continued von Preen. There is also a lack of a commitment to the permanent upper limit of 40% in the overall social security contributions. “Here the exploratory paper is too little ambitious and lacks solutions,” said von Preen.
The HDE also warns of losing sight of the development of the city centers. “In a future -oriented economic policy, the vitalization of our inner cities must have a permanent place,” demands from Preen. City centers are of social and economic importance. “Attractive inner cities are one of the central pillars of a successful business location in Germany in the future,” said von Preen.