Exposing the Untamed: Klingbeil's Crusade Against Underground Operations and the Planned Assault of Customs Officers
Klingbeil advocates for increased employment of black workers to combat issues and proposes deploying customs officials.
Social Media NewsFeed Chat Mail Print Quick Share The Hidden Costs of the Unseen: Klingbeil Speaks Out and Takes a Dig at Lindner
The Finance Minister and Vice-Chancellor, Lars Klingbeil, has revealed that underground activities caused a staggering loss of 766 million euros in 2025. The SPD politician announced a stern response, vowing to intensify investigations and protect citizens from exploitation while bolstering state finances. A bill aimed at combating these secretive activities is planned to be introduced before the summer break by his ministry.
Economy Systemic Deceit: Hundreds of Thousands Cheated Out of Minimum Wage The announced figure for the total loss in 2025, due to underground activities, represents a significant escalation compared to the previous year, which stood at 615 million euros in 2024. Experts believe the actual amount could be substantially higher. The strategy involves leveraging advanced data analysis, including artificial intelligence, by the financial controllers. Their focus lies in sectors like hairdressing, cosmetics, barbershops, and nail studios.
Economy "The State Must Attack the Root Cause": Many High-Earners Opt for the Black Market in 2025" ## Klingbeil: Lindner Was Lacking in Ambition
At a Monday evening event in Lüneburg, Klingbeil also declared his intent to dispatch customs officers on the hunt for wrongdoings. Meanwhile, he couldn't help but take a jab at the former FDP leader and former finance minister, Christian Lindner. "I have the sense that my predecessor, Christian Lindner, was not nearly as ambitious in this matter," said Klingbeil, referring to the billions of euros' worth of revenue evaded by the state.
Despite staffing shortages, there is room for improvement, argued Klingbeil. "The personnel at customs must be employed effectively to tackle tax evasion." The issue of underground activities and illegal employment has been a persistent problem for years, Klingbeil acknowledged, but he has only been finance minister for three weeks.
Source: ntv.de, gho/rts/dpa
- Underground Activities
- Lars Klingbeil
- Federal Ministry of Finance
- Customs Investigators
- The staggering loss of 766 million euros in 2025, due to underground activities, has prompted Lars Klingbeil, the Finance Minister and Vice-Chancellor, to intensify investigations and introduce a bill aimed at combating these secretive activities, with a focus on sectors like hairdressing, cosmetics, barbershops, and nail studios.
- In his pursuit to protect citizens from exploitation, Lars Klingbeil has also announced the deployment of customs officers to hunt for wrongdoings, taking a jab at his predecessor, Christian Lindner, claiming that his predecessor was not ambitious enough in addressing this issue.
