Newsblog on federal politics: Union faction leader Frei wants changes to the sugar tax

For our news blog, in addition to our own research, we use material from the news agencies dpa, Reuters, epd, KNA, and Bloomberg. Important Updates Number of conscientious objectors continues to rise Free wants changes to sugar tax Switzers: Must find a compromise on "pension at 63" Bundestag decides on early retirement pension Expensive cigarettes: Bundestag votes for higher tobacco tax Free wants changes to sugar tax Union faction leader Thorsten Frei insists on further improvements to the draft tax on sweetened beverages planned by the black-red coalition. "There is a need for amendments to the draft law of Finance Minister Klingbeil," said the CDU politician to the Cologne Stadt-Anzeiger. "We need transition periods so that beverage manufacturers can change their recipes." Frei warned that if they do not succeed, they would have to increase their prices. "They face competitive disadvantages and perhaps job losses in the end – which we do not want." In any case, there should be no new positions in the administration for the sugar tax. In principle, the Union faction leader defended the planned extra tax on beverages with added sugar. The Federal Cabinet had put forward a proposal for the coalition factions on Wednesday, which they are to bring to the Bundestag. The leader of the CSU deputies in the Bundestag, Alexander Hoffmann, already demanded an earlier start date than previously planned so that companies can change their recipes – namely early 2028 instead of July 2027. The new tax is to apply to sweetened beverages with a total sugar content of at least five grams per 100 milliliters. According to the Ministry of Finance, these include soft drinks, ice teas, energy drinks, and fruit juice drinks with added sugar. Beverages with alcohol as well as non-alcoholic beers, wines, or cocktails are not affected. Pure fruit and vegetable juices or unsweetened sodas are also not taxed additionally, just as beverages with sweeteners. The government seeks an exemption for all operators who produce a maximum of one million liters per year. The federal government could expect to collect 690 million euros from the tax in the next year, and 925 million euros are planned for 2028. This money is to be used to stabilize contributions for statutory health insurance. At the same time, the tax should be an incentive for beverage manufacturers to reduce the sugar content in their products. "The sugar tax primarily serves health protection," argued Frei. Frei warned that if they do not succeed, they would have to increase their prices. "They face competitive disadvantages and perhaps job losses in the end – which we do not want." In any case, there should be no new positions in the administration for the sugar tax. In principle, the Union faction leader defended the planned extra tax on beverages with added sugar. The Federal Cabinet had put forward a proposal for the coalition factions on Wednesday, which they are to bring to the Bundestag. The leader of the CSU deputies in the Bundestag, Alexander Hoffmann, already demanded an earlier start date than previously planned so that companies can change their recipes – namely early 2028 instead of July 2027. The new tax is to apply to sweetened beverages with a total sugar content of at least five grams per 100 milliliters. According to the Ministry of Finance, these include soft drinks, ice teas, energy drinks, and fruit juice drinks with added sugar. Beverages with alcohol as well as non-alcoholic beers, wines, or cocktails are not affected. Pure fruit and vegetable juices or unsweetened sodas are also not taxed additionally, just as beverages with sweeteners. The government seeks an exemption for all operators who produce a maximum of one million liters per year. The federal government could expect to collect 690 million euros from the tax in the next year, and 925 million euros are planned for 2028. This money is to be used to stabilize contributions for statutory health insurance. At the same time, the tax should be an incentive for beverage manufacturers to reduce the sugar content in their products. "The sugar tax primarily serves health protection," argued Frei. Number of conscientious objectors continues to rise The number of conscientious objectors in Germany is continuing to rise at a rapid pace. From January to the end of September of this year, nearly 15,000 applications have already been received by the responsible Federal Office for Family and Civil Society Tasks, as reported by Funke-Medien. This means the number of applications is already almost four times higher than in the entire year 2025. One reason for this development is the entry into force of the new military service law at the beginning of the year, according to the information. All German citizens will therefore receive questionnaires in the year they turn eighteen to inquire about their suitability for service in the armed forces. For men, filling out the questionnaire is mandatory, for persons with other gender entries it is voluntary. Generally, however, there is still no obligation for military service. Nevertheless, men who are potentially subject to conscription have the right to refuse service in the Bundeswehr in advance. An application for conscientious objection must be submitted in writing to the Federal Office for Personnel Management of the Bundeswehr. It is forwarded there – usually after determining health suitability through medical examination – to the Federal Office for Family and Civil Society Tasks, which decides on the application. One reason for this development is the entry into force of the new military service law at the beginning of the year, according to the information. All German citizens will therefore receive questionnaires in the year they turn eighteen to inquire about their suitability for service in the armed forces. For men, filling out the questionnaire is mandatory, for persons with other gender entries it is voluntary. Generally, however, there is still no obligation for military service. Nevertheless, men who are potentially subject to conscription have the right to refuse service in the Bundeswehr in advance. An application for conscientious objection must be submitted in writing to the Federal Office for Personnel Management of the Bundeswehr. It is forwarded there – usually after determining health suitability through medical examination – to the Federal Office for Family and Civil Society Tasks, which decides on the application. Switzers: Must find a compromise on "pension at 63" The new Federal Minister of Labour Alexander Schweitzer is seeking a "good compromise" in the dispute over early retirement without deduction after 45 years of contributions. "I am confident that we will succeed," said the SPD politician from Rheinpfalz. The proposals of the pension commission provide for the abolition of the so-called pension at 63. Schweitzer, who was sworn in as minister on Wednesday, had opposed the abolition in August. He now said that Black-Red agreed in the coalition agreement to generally maintain the pension without deduction after 45 years of contributions. Now, the pension security commission "has made a proposal that deviates from this". Some CDU state leaders also criticized this, highlighted by Schweitzer. "That is why this will be one of the topics where we have to sit down and find a good compromise." The pension commission appointed by the federal government had submitted 33 proposals for a comprehensive pension reform in June, including the abolition of the early retirement pension after 45 years of insurance. Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) and the resigning Minister of Labour Bärbel Bas (SPD) had announced at that time that they would fully implement the proposals. There has been resistance to the abolition of the early retirement pension in the SPD for some time. However, the three CDU state premiers from East Germany, Sven Schulze (Saxony-Anhalt), Michael Kretschmer (Saxony), and Mario Voigt (Thuringia), had also opposed the plans. In response to the statement of his predecessor Bärbel Bas, who said the pension proposals were a masterpiece, Schweitzer said: "Commission proposals are commission proposals are commission proposals." On this basis "political debates must take place". "Decisions are made in the government and the Bundestag, that is appropriate in a parliamentary democracy." The pension commission appointed by the federal government had submitted 33 proposals for a comprehensive pension reform in June, including the abolition of the early retirement pension after 45 years of insurance. Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) and the resigning Minister of Labour Bärbel Bas (SPD) had announced at that time that they would fully implement the proposals. There has been resistance to the abolition of the early retirement pension in the SPD for some time. However, the three CDU state premiers from East Germany, Sven Schulze (Saxony-Anhalt), Michael Kretschmer (Saxony) and Mario Voigt (Thuringia), had also opposed the plans. In response to the statement of his predecessor Bärbel Bas, who said the pension proposals were a masterpiece, Schweitzer said: "Commission proposals are commission proposals are commission proposals." On this basis "political debates must take place". "Decisions are made in the government and the Bundestag, that is appropriate in a parliamentary democracy." Wadephul threatens Iran over attack plans: "We will react" Federal Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has warned Iran about hybrid attacks in Europe and threatened the leadership in Tehran with consequences. "Europe is in Iran's crosshairs," Wadephul said at a press conference with the Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel on Friday in Berlin. The minister also welcomed a ruling by the Hamburg Higher Regional Court, which had sentenced two men with links to Iran for attempted murder attacks on Jews in Germany to multi-year prison sentences. Wadephul announced a reaction from the federal government. "We do not tolerate Iran's hostile activities that are directed against Jews in Germany and our open society as a whole," said Wadephul. "It is good that the attempted attacks against Josef Schuster and Volker Beck and Iran's role behind this state-controlled terror have been so clearly named." Schuster is the President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, Beck is the President of the German-Israeli Society. "We will react here too," Wadephul added. The Hamburg court came to the conclusion that one of the convicted was controlled by the Iranian intelligence service. The Danish citizen Ali S. was sentenced to eight years and six months in prison for preparing an attack and serious arson. The judges were convinced that the accused had been recruited by the Iranian intelligence service and integrated into its structures to carry out the state-controlled terrorist attacks in Germany under the leadership of Iran. The second defendant, an Afghan citizen, received a sentence of four years and six months for his participation in the attack plans. The Federal Government has confirmed investigations into possible violations. Like the German Reporting Network (RND) reports, based on the commander of the Federal Armed Forces' Medical Service, General-General Staff Doctor Ralf Hoffmann, it concerns suspected drug trafficking, threats, and sexual misconduct by superiors. There are a total of ten accused. Violations unfortunately occur repeatedly in the Bundeswehr, said Pistorius. "I also do not know if we will ever be able to stop this. What we must do in individual cases, however, is to sanction those who commit the acts, as well as those who suppress them, who do not report them, who do not prosecute them. This is our common task in the sense of comradeship in the troops, reliability and security for all soldiers of the Bundeswehr." Merz: No euro for Ukraine aid is missing from social spending Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz has rejected the accusation from the Left and Right Foreign Ministry that aid to Ukraine comes at the expense of social spending. "No euro that flows to Ukraine is missing from social spending and education spending in our country," emphasized Merz at the EU summit in the Bundestag to continued applause from his faction. They have decided on the so-called area exception in the debt brake, from which defense and Ukraine aid are financed. The AfD and the Left accused him of wanting to divide Germany. The Heads of State of the European Union (EU) will meet for two-day talks in Brussels on Thursday. The EU budget for the years 2028 to 2034 is at the top of the agenda. The funds are limited, said Merz in Berlin: "We want to set the priorities clearer and correctly, because we must invest where the future of Europe is decided – in our security and our competitiveness." Merz on EU trade protection: "Stop standing by doing nothing longer" Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) wants to promote a stronger EU approach against unfair trade practices by other states. The CDU chairman said in a government statement in the Bundestag on the upcoming EU summit: "We no longer stand by doing nothing when other states harm our economy through high subsidies, artificially devalued currencies, overcapacity, and aggressive price setting." The statements are likely to be directed mainly against China – even if Merz did not explicitly name the country. The government in Beijing is accused of distorting the market through state subsidies, creating overcapacity, and thus allowing dumping prices with which European companies cannot compete. Merz also said: "Whoever seeks a trade conflict with us will find out that we will now stand up and react, and do so with appropriate reactions." Referring to the proposals of Germany and France, the Chancellor spoke of a new trade protection instrument, with which quick reactions can be taken in case of targeted attacks on industries and supply chains. This should be debated at the EU summit this week. Decisions should then be reached as quickly as possible. Merz honors Bärbel Bas's services as Minister Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) honored the work of the resigning Federal Minister Bärbel Bas (SPD) at the beginning of his government statement. She had exercised the office with great empathy, especially for the weak, said Merz in the Bundestag in Berlin. "We did not always agree with her on factual matters," said Merz. That is part of it. "But we will not deny her recognition for the work and commitment to our country." He once again expressed his deepest sympathy for the loss of her stepdaughter in her name. He hopes that she can resume her work as a deputy very soon as she wishes.