Germany adopts Merkel’s tax cut bill

Author (Person)
Series Title
Series Details 19.12.09
Publication Date 19/12/2009
Content Type

Article reports that the new German government scored its first big victory on the 18 December 2009 when its emergency €8.5bn tax cut package cleared its last parliamentary hurdle in a result that had been uncertain until hours before the vote.

The approval of the 'growth-acceleration' bill in the Bundesrat, parliament’s upper house, which represents Germany’s 16 regions, hinged on backing from two states which are led by political allies of the chancellor but who had threatened to reject the legislation.

Critics worry the plan will only worsen the country's rising debt.

Related Links
ESO: Background information: Merkel poised to pass tax test http://www.europeansources.info/record/merkel-poised-to-pass-tax-test/
Deutsche Welle, 18.12.09: German tax-cut plan passes parliament http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,5035680,00.html
Spiegel Online International, 18.12.09: Tax-Cut Success for Merkel, the 'Fiscal Policy Gambler' http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,667964,00.html

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