BERLIN, Feb 16 (Reuters) - Germany's Social Democrats (SPD) are considering including a tax on stock market transactions in their election manifesto, party chairman Franz Muentefering said on Monday.
The levy was being considered with a view to directing investments more towards the real economy rather than towards quick, speculative transactions on the financial markets, Muentefering said.
"This is legitimately on the agenda," he told reporters after a meeting of senior SPD officials to discuss the outlines of the manifesto.
"There is no decision on this matter yet," he added.
The Social Democrats, junior partner in an awkward coalition with Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives, have seen the emerging Left party lure away many of their traditional blue-collar voters and leave their support near record lows.
The SPD plans to present its manifesto in mid-April. A federal election is due in September.
Earlier this month, Finance Minister Peer Steinbrueck, a Social Democrat, told the Bild am Sonntag newspaper the SPD wanted to cut taxes for lower income groups and raise them for the rich after the federal election.
Opinion polls show the conservatives well ahead of the SPD ahead of the election. Merkel has promised to cut taxes should she be re-elected as chancellor. (Reporting by Holger Hansen, writing by Paul Carrel; Editing by Rupert Winchester)