October 11, 2007

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - People in Germany are split over a proposal to fund projects in Africa through a special "solidarity tax", according to a poll by Forsa released by Stern and RTL. 49 per cent of respondents would be willing to pay the tax, while 47 per cent would not.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - People in Germany are split over a proposal to fund projects in Africa through a special "solidarity tax", according to a poll by Forsa released by Stern and RTL. 49 per cent of respondents would be willing to pay the tax, while 47 per cent would not.

In November 2005, Christian-Democratic Union (CDU) leader Angela Merkel was sworn in as Germany’s first female head of government. The current administration includes members of the CDU, the Bavarian Christian-Social Party (CSU) and the Social Democratic Party (SPD).

In August 2005, French president Jacques Chirac announced the implementation of a new levy on airline tickets to finance the fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria around the world. The proposal added roughly $6 U.S. to the price of every airline ticket purchased in France—or $25 U.S. for business class passengers—in order to raise $3 billion U.S. Algeria, Brazil, Chile, Germany and Spain have studied the possibility of introducing a similar "solidarity tax" on airline tickets.

Following the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, Germany’s unified government introduced a "solidarity tax" aimed at raising the living standards of East German residents. The levy was supposed to remain in place for a couple of years, but it has carried on and is by law in effect until at least 2019.

Politicians of the current coalition government have expressed their interest in abolishing or cutting what they call the "soli", which represents 5.5 per cent of income tax, now that Germany’s economy is performing well. In August, SPD deputy leader Joachim Poss talked about this possibility, saying, "Before we cut taxes in general, we should sharply reduce or eliminate the soli. (...) The year 2012 could be the right moment for that."

Polling Data

Would you be willing to pay a special "solidarity tax" to fund projects in Africa?

Yes	49%
No	47%
Not sure	4%

Source: Forsa / Stern / RTL
Methodology: Interviews with 1,001 German adults, conducted on Sept. 26 and Sept. 27, 2007. Margin of error is 3 per cent.