The globalization critics want to pull up to the Federal constitutional court. The Reform of the non-profit is the right to wait

The globalization to criticize, as it is here in Heiligendamm, continues to be a non-profit photo: Kai Pfaffenbach/reuters

BERLIN taz | The debate about the charitable status of the alter-globalisation Organisation Attac continues according to the decision of the Hessian Finance court this Wednesday. The court rejected the claim of Attac against the loss of charitable status. The globalisation critics now want to be appealed to the Bundesfinanzhof, and, if necessary, until the Federal constitutional court.

the decision of The Hessisches finanzgericht, Kassel had to be based on the higher the Federal Finance court (BFH), the tight deadlines had made. The Kassel judge Helmut Lotzgeselle criticized this and said that the BFH have knitted his judgment of the past year, apparently "with a hot needle". The core of the conflict is the question of how political non-profit organizations are allowed to act. In 2014, the tax office Frankfurt/Main Attac revoked the charitable status on the grounds that it was not a question, first and foremost, within the meaning of the tax-privileged purposes, its own articles of Association. Instead, the critics of globalisation pursued in the "General political objectives".

According to its articles of Association Attac, among other things, "education" and the "democratic state promotes". In addition to numerous other wide tax code, the Basis for the granting of charitable status are for these purposes in the Federal government. Was founded in Attac, however, a fair globalisation and higher taxes for international corporations. Because these objectives are not found in the tax code, call Attac an aid to, among other things, on education.

The discussion draws circles: After the judgment of the court of the relevant Berlin tax office of the Association of Persecutees of the Nazi regime revoked the charitable status, as well as the campaign organisation, Campact. Therefore, environmental and development organisations such as the Federation for environment and nature conservation, the German environmental aid Association and the traffic club VCD, the tax code require change to: non-profit purposes should also be allowed to predominantly, or even exclusively pursued by political means. In addition, there are proposals to Supplement the eligible purposes.

the Federal Finance Minister, Olaf Scholz (SPD) makes its professionals for some time on a revision to work – so far without public result. A consensus with the länder, is difficult. On the one hand, such as the CDU-FDP government in North Rhine-Westphalia is of no interest to gain left organizations more room to move. On the other hand, the delimitation of political parties falls hard.