Swiss-German tax accord is dead and buried’ say critics

A proposed Swiss-German tax accord is dead and buried amid growing public opposition in Germany to any deal that is seen as too easy on evaders, senior members of chancellor Angela Merkel’s coalition said.

“Recent cases of tax evasion have resulted in mounting sentiment among Germans that evasion is fraud and not mere bagatelle,” said Ingrid Arndt-Brauer, a lawmaker with Merkel’s Social Democratic coalition partner who chairs the finance committee in the lower house of parliament.

“Any revival of the stalled German-Swiss tax deal is off the table.”