Bärbel Bas calls for social justice in coalition tax reform, backs NRW candidate and jabs at Wüst
At an SPD conference in Düsseldorf, chairwoman Bärbel Bas warned against cuts-only reforms and called for tax relief for workers, families and carers, with higher earners paying more. She also threw her support behind Jochen Ott as lead candidate for the 2027 North Rhine-Westphalia state election and took aim at CDU premier Hendrik Wüst.
Reform, not austerity
In a speech to delegates of the North Rhine-Westphalian SPD in Düsseldorf on 13 June, federal party chair and labour minister Bärbel Bas pushed back against an austerity-minded reform agenda within the black-red coalition.
For some, reform just means: cut, slash, save. And when someone says we all need to tighten our belts, they usually don't mean themselves first and foremost.
Bas argued that reforms must be a tool, not an end in themselves, and called on the coalition to break political blockades. The country needed economic stimulus, more justice and new, good jobs.
In the coming weeks we must also succeed in resolving blockades in our country within the federal government. Reforms are a means to that end, but they are not an end in themselves. In the end they must structurally improve people's lives.
Tax plan: relief for the many, contribution from the few
Turning specifically to the tax reform the coalition is pursuing, Bas stressed that workers, families and caregivers should be relieved. That, however, meant others would also have to contribute.
We will ultimately also have to adjust taxes for those who earn very, very much in this country – that is part of distributional justice.
The black-red coalition aims to present a large reform package covering pensions, tax relief and the labour market before the parliamentary summer break in early July. Many details remain open.
- Bärbel Bas delivers speech at NRW SPD conference, calls for social justice in reforms
- Coalition aims to present pension, tax and labour reform package before summer break
- North Rhine-Westphalia state election; Jochen Ott to stand as SPD lead candidate
Ott gets the red jersey, Wüst gets a barb
Bas gave full backing to Jochen Ott, the freshly elected lead candidate for the 2027 NRW state election, handing him a bright red jersey with the number seven.
Jochen, you can be sure: we will all fight together so that on 25 April 2027 you become the seventh Social Democratic minister-president of North Rhine-Westphalia.
She also took a swipe at the incumbent CDU premier Hendrik Wüst, who is rumoured to harbour ambitions to replace Friedrich Merz as federal chancellor.
While one dreams of moving to Berlin, the NRW SPD is bringing its best man into play to score goals.
The NRW SPD is the party's largest state chapter; its performance carries a signal effect for federal politics.
