Amid historically low birth rates in Germany, Thuringia's Minister President Mario Voigt has proposed tax relief for families. In an interview with Stern magazine, he called for exploring new approaches. Births fell to 654,300 last year, the lowest since 1946.
Thuringia's Minister President Mario Voigt has suggested tax relief for families to address Germany's demographic challenges. "I think we should explore new paths and consider relieving families more through taxes," the CDU politician told Stern magazine.
He proposed exempting one parent from income tax for families with three or more children. "That would send a clear signal: families are not just praised but concretely supported," he emphasized. Data from the Federal Statistical Office show that only 654,300 children were born last year – the fewest since 1946.
Voigt called the figures a "clear warning signal" and pointed to the particularly dire situation in eastern Germany. "The demographic echo of the 1990s is felt strongly there," he explained. He urged putting family policy back in focus and shielding parents from burdens like high energy prices and inflation.
"Therefore, we must consider demographic developments in all upcoming reforms," Voigt said. The goal is to give families more planning security.
