Hamburg Mayor Peter Tschentscher Criticizes Federal Government’s Tax Policy
Hamburg, September 9 – Hamburg’s First Mayor Peter Tschentscher (SPD) has sharply criticized the federal government’s tax policy, describing it as leading ‘into a dead end’. Tschentscher, who rarely comments on federal political issues, stated that the federal government is making ‘tax gifts’ and warned that the planned reduction of corporate tax for companies from 15 to 10 percent in 2032 would severely affect federal, state, and municipal budgets.
“The municipal budgets are on the verge of collapse – from Flensburg to Lake Constance,” Tschentscher said. He suggested that parts of the corporate tax should instead flow as a subsidy into statutory health insurance.
Tschentscher Demands Digital Tax
Tschentscher dismissed the ‘neoliberal-conservative motto’ that ‘you only have to lower taxes, then the economy will take off like a rocket’ as never having worked. He called the federal government’s tax policy a ‘dead end’, a clear critique of SPD Federal Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil. In contrast, Tschentscher advocates for a digital tax on tech corporations, similar to those implemented in France, Austria, and Italy.
Surprising Criticism of Federal Budget Policy
The mayor of Hamburg described the tax and financial policies of the black-red coalition as ‘misguided’. This surprisingly strong criticism was broadcast on NDR 90.3 as part of its ‘NDR 90.3 Aktuell’ program on August 9, 2026, at 12:00 PM.
This topic was featured in the program: NDR 90.3 | NDR 90.3 Aktuell | 09.08.2026 | 12:00 Uhr
Other News from Hamburg
In other news from Hamburg, an international exercise is currently underway in Altona to practice dealing with the consequences of extreme weather, involving 150 volunteers from across Europe. The city is also reflecting on how sentiment towards the USA shifted after 9/11, particularly with the former US Consul General in Hamburg recounting the weeks leading up to the Iraq War in 2003.
Recent PISA study results have revealed a ‘new PISA shock’, with 15-year-olds in Germany performing worse than ever before, raising questions about improving teaching methods in schools. Additionally, the Hamburg Senate and the Asklepios Group have reached an agreement on the new clinic construction in Altona, which will include more operating rooms and increased intensive care capacities, while having fewer beds overall than the current facility.
Source: https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/hamburg/tschentscher-kritisiert-steuerpolitik-der-bundesregierung,tschentscher-210.html
