German Greens present federal platform proposing wealth taxes and pension reforms

Platform for governance

Co-leaders Franziska Brantner and Felix Banaszak presented their party draft motion, titled "Our Plan for Germany," at the Federal Press Conference in Berlin on Thursday. The motion outlines the party platform for the upcoming federal party congress scheduled for December at the Berlin exhibition grounds. Both leaders, who are seeking two-year re-election bids in December, drafted the text following a year of consultations with citizens, researchers, and business leaders. Banaszak described the initiative as preparation for potential governance if the ruling coalition between the Christian Democrats and Social Democrats collapses before the regular February 2029 election. The party seeks to position itself as a democratic alternative to both the current federal government under Chancellor Friedrich Merz and the far-right Alternative for Germany.

Banaszak explained the necessity of presenting an alternative to the governing coalition.

There must also be an opposition party that offers people a reliable, responsible, and credible alternative to the course of Friedrich Merz and his coalition within the democratic spectrum.

Economic and fiscal proposals

The economic section of the document, presented by Brantner, focuses on stimulating economic growth while combining climate protection with business development. The proposal advocates cutting administrative burdens by shifting toward risk-based corporate audits and abolishing standard reporting obligations unless authorities explicitly justify them. Fiscal measures include introducing a digital tax on large platform corporations and raising taxes on very large personal wealth. To address industrial transition, the Greens propose lower energy prices, increased funding for professional training, and regional transformation agencies to support workers moving out of fossil industries. On external commerce, the draft advocates a stricter trade policy toward China.

Brantner explained the intended shift in the relationship between public authorities and private enterprise.

We do not dictate what everyone must do, but instead enable those who have a plan for their life and their business to put it into action.

Pension adjustments and state reform

The motion details extensive revisions to the pension system to address demographic pressures while maintaining the statutory pension payout level above 48%. The party document notes that the actual average retirement age currently sits at 64.7 years, which Banaszak stated reduces national productivity. Under the proposal, early retirement without financial deductions would be restricted exclusively to individuals with medical limitations. Company pension schemes would become progressively mandatory for employers with equal cost-sharing, and the statutory retirement age could adjust upward if average life expectancy increases. The platform also calls for an examination of legal procedures to potentially ban the Alternative for Germany, alongside broader state reforms to finance local municipalities.

Shifting political landscape

The presentation occurs as recent public opinion polling shows shifting support levels among federal opposition parties. In the RTL/ntv Trendbarometer, the Greens registered 17% support, trailing the CDU and CSU by two percentage points and moving ahead of the SPD. A separate assessment cited in Berlin put the party at approximately 15%, while roughly 80% of surveyed citizens expressed distrust in the capacity of political parties to resolve public issues. In the policy motion, the leadership explicitly acknowledged errors from their participation in the federal coalition between December 2021 and November 2024, stating that previous governance produced public uncertainty rather than stability. Approximately 25 journalists attended the conference in Berlin, reflecting sustained interest in the opposition party's strategic realignment.