Faction Meeting: SPD Plans Multiple Tax Reforms and Wants to Empower Women - SPD unveils bold tax reforms and stricter laws against femicide in Berlin retreat

Germany’s Social Democrats (SPD) are meeting in Berlin on Thursday for their annual strategy retreat. The party is set to discuss key reforms, including changes to income and inheritance tax, as well as measures to combat violence against women. The SPD is pushing for tax reforms aimed at easing the burden on low and middle-income earners. Under their plans, higher earners and wealthier individuals would pay more to fund these cuts. Another focus is inheritance tax, where the party wants to limit tax exemptions to just one family home—ending the current rule that allows multiple properties to pass tax-free.

On women’s rights, the SPD has proposed new laws to tackle violence, including stricter criminal offences. A key priority is addressing 'femicide', where women are killed because of their gender. These proposals come as the party prepares for coalition talks with the conservative CDU and CSU. The SPD aims to advance these tax reforms before the end of the year.

The strategy retreat will shape the SPD’s approach to upcoming coalition negotiations. If implemented, the tax changes would shift more responsibility to higher earners while protecting lower incomes. The new legal measures, if passed, would also strengthen protections for women against gender-based violence.