If they did, the SPD would co-operate with government. And Chancellor Kohl wants to find new ways to employ so-called unskilled workers. The head of the Greens parliamentary group, Mr Fischer, said he doubted the tax-proposals had real financial backing. 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.