“Here I would like to point out a deficiency that has been present since the existence of the Federal Republic, as well as with the traffic light: The state has always done too little to promote wealth formation and specifically property formation, be it with regard to real estate or share rights in companies. This could have been done through tax or other incentives. Because what good is a property guarantee if the population largely consists of non-owners?”
– Hans-Jürgen Papier, former President of the Federal Constitutional Court, in the interview “The politicians ignore basic rights when it comes to the solidarity surcharge”, Handelsblatt, May 21, 2024, page 6, No. 95