German protesters call for more taxes on the rich

Thousands of people tooks to the streets of Germany on Saturday to call for new taxes on the rich and a levy on financial transactions.

Organisers said 40,000 people took part in rallies in as many as 40 cities.

In Frankfurt Protesters marched on the European Central Bank, calling for a greater redistribution of wealth.

Frank Bsirske, the chairman of the ver.di union, said ordinary workers should not bear the burden of Germany’s debt.

“Where does this debt come from? It comes from the bank bailouts during the financial crisis and a tax system that favours the wealthy, the biggest fortunes,” he said.

They are also demanding new property taxes and a bigger effort by the German state to fight tax evasion.

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