FACTBOX-Germany's SPD unveils election programme

April 18 (Reuters) - Leaders of Germany's Social Democrats (SPD) on Saturday agreed their campaign platform for September's election, when current foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier will challenge the conservative chancellor, Angela Merkel.

The two parties have shared power in an awkward coalition since 2005's election. Following are key elements of the SPD's election programme:

TAXES, BENEFITS

- The SPD sees no room for comprehensive tax cuts but aims to relieve the burden on lower earners and families. It wants to cut the lowest income tax rate to 10 percent from 14 percent.

- A headline winner is the plan to allow Germans to receive 300 euros in return for not claiming rebates -- a move, the SPD says, to cut bureaucracy.

- The SPD says it would raise the highest tax rate to 47 percent from 45 percent to boost spending on education. The threshold for the top rate would be lowered to include incomes of above 125,000 euros ($163,900), rather than 250,000 euros.

- To limit short-term speculation, a tax would be levied on stock market trading, with stock trades of 1,000 euros or more to be taxed at a rate of 0.5 percent or 1.5 percent.