Coalition representatives presented different reactions to the SPD tax plan. The CDU stated that a common ground for new talks with the Social Democrats had become apparent. The head of the CDu parliamentary group, Wolfgang Schaeuble, detected absurdities in the plan, saying that he did not consider the financing proposals realistic. The CSU, however, criticized the SPD plan as a clumsy package for tax hikes and redistribution. The FDP parliamentary group's leader Solms also expressed his opinion that the SPD plan was not thought through and that additional rounds of talks would therefore not make sense.
Coalition argues about budget policies Bonn.
After the FDP part convention, the coalition debates on budget policies intensified. While the FDP insisted on its rejection of tax raises, finance minister Waigel did not dismiss new tax hikes in the light of the difficult financial situation. The CDU secretary general Hintze even questioned the lowering of the solidarity tax which had already been agreed on, but Waigel wants to adhere to it. According to Hintze, the Liberals generally acted coalition compatible at their convention. Mr. Lutz said in a newspaper interview that East European states should only be admitted to the European Union when the co-operation with their police forces has been significantly improved.