Matthaeus-Maier cautioned that the interest alone would be oppressing. The FDP, too, opposed a higher deficit. FDP chairman Wolfgang Gerhard explained that one has to save still more. The president of the national bank association, Mr. Wessel, warned against a higher debt ceiling. Instead, the public purses have to consent to a radical saving course, Wessel said in Munich.
All expenditures have to be scrutinized.
Federal Finance Minister Waigel cannot rule out higher borrowing any longer, considering the billions that are missing in the budget. Yet, the CSU chairman declined to give concrete figures, after a board meeting of his party in Munich. In particular, this applies to the lay-off protection, Keller said. According to CDU Secretary General Hintze, the President of the Bundestag, Ms. Suessmuth, also sees a need for further discussion, but supports the package in principle. Protests against the savings program of Bonn Several thousand police officers staged a protest march against the plans in Erfurt.