He thought Mr Waigel was simply playing Santa Claus, and pulling the wool over peoples' eyes. There seem to be severe discrepancies between Mr Bluem's and his cabinet colleagues' views, and Mr Bluem hinted at sometimes having lost the Chancellor's backing. Parliament decides on reforming law on work-incentives Bonn. Previously the draft had been shot down by the Upper House, but the new version did not require their consent the second time 'round. Amongst other things, unemployed persons now cannot turn down offers of lower-qualified jobs.
Government proposes longer sentences for sexual abusers and compulsory therapy.
And it should become easier for the courts to sentence offenders to protective custody. Raising sentences was meant to be part and parcel of a bigger revamp of criminal law, but that was too long-range to the taste of Bavaria's Minister of Justice, Mr Lehm. He preferred a speedier change. And there were expectations that there would also be a debate on the qualifying-criteria for admission to the planned European Currency Union. Normally the Upper House reconvenes in mid-February, observing the Christmas recess.