Germany Seeks 50 Billion Euro Economic Boost

Come on people! Take it or leave it!

*German Chancellor Angela Merkel's ruling CDU party has proposed 50 billion euro fiscal stimulus package of investment and tax cuts aimed at helping the German economy through the recession. "With our 'Pact for Germany' we are providing the impetus ... for growth, for employment in Germany because employment for people is our overriding concern," Merkel told reporters. Merkel had just warned her European neighbors against a reckless "race to spend billions" to fight the global recession, preferring a wait-and-see approach. The new package is a second, stronger shot in the arm for the world's number one exporter after a first, 12-billion-euro effort announced in November came up short. Finalized in late-night talks between Merkel's CDU conservatives and the centre-left SPD, it includes 17-18 billion euros in investments in roads and schools, and nine billion euros in tax cuts for firms and individuals. It also includes a 100-billion-euro loan guarantee program to help stricken companies hobbled by the credit crunch, according to a copy of the agreement obtained by AFP. Other elements include a one-off, 100-euro extra child benefit payment and sweeteners to persuade reluctant consumers to buy new, environmentally friendly cars to boost Germany's struggling auto sector. It also includes cuts in health insurance contributions for employers and employees to slash the cost of job creation and to put more cash in shoppers' pockets, and simpler rules on creating temporary work. Data in recent months have made it clear that the German economy is going south, with industrial orders and output falling off a cliff and unemployment on the rise in December for the first time in 33 months. Unemployment now stands at more than three million and economists fear one in 10 workers will be out of a job by the time of the general election in September. GDP could shrink three percent this year. The cabinet is due to approve the stimulus package over the coming week before the lower and upper houses of parliament vote in late January or early February.

ニュースアニメ「独、６兆円の追加景気対策へ。所得税下げや子供家庭一時金」
ドイツのメルケル首相率いる与党キリスト教民主同盟（ＣＤＵ）と、連立政権を組む社会民主党（ＳＰＤ）は、総額５００億ユーロの追加的な景気対策の内容に合意した。ドイツ­政府は２００８年１１月に第１弾となる総額３１０億ユーロの景気対策を発表。メルケル首相はその後、財政悪化につながる再追加対策には慎重な態度だったが、大連立与党の右­派や経済界が、減税を含む経済対策を強く要請。政府はこうした声を受け入れた。シュタインブリュック財務相は「今回の景気対策は、ドイツ連邦共和国が始まって以来最大規模­となる」と述べた。今回合意された景気対策の柱は、連邦政府による総額１４０億ユーロの新規投資。雇用創出を目的としたインフラ整備と教育関連事業などに投資される。所得­税の最低税率を１５％から１４％に引き下げるほか、子供のいる家庭に対し、子供１人当たり１００ユーロの一時金を支給する。健康保険料率も０・６％引き下げて１４・９％と­する。さらに、景気への影響が大きい自動車業界の支援として、古い車から環境配慮型の新車に買い替える場合に２５００ユーロを支給するとしている。今年９月の選挙で再選を­目指すメルケル氏にとり、この景気刺激策の成功は重要な意味を持つ。野党自由民主党（ＦＤＰ）のギド・ウェスターウェレ党首は地元紙ミュンヘン・マーキュロに対し「この景­気対策は、これまで明らかにされた内容を見る限り、十分な効果はないだろう」と述べた。

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