PES

Discuss in forum Printer-friendly version

PES President Poul Nyrup Rasmussen today gave his full support to the SPD Chancellor-candidate’s proposal for the adoption of a global financial transaction tax at the G20.

“I strongly back Frank-Walter Steinmeier’s proposal for a global transaction tax. It is a realistic and workable proposal – the rate proposed is a modest 0.05%. German citizens are right to feel angry with finance executives earning six figure salaries once again. Taxpayers cannot pay the costs of this crisis twice: first with the bailouts, second with cuts to their public services. It’s a question of fairness: we need fair burden-sharing. This tax will help us finance the long-term investments we need for new green growth and jobs.” 

Mr Rasmussen added: “The CDU pretends to support reform, but they are not proposing the fundamental changes we need in the financial system. Germany needs a new SPD government for radical, progressive reforms”.

“The SPD’s Chancellor-candidate is right: we cannot go back to business as usual.”