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Even a FDP finance minister might be more interested in getting closer to a balanced budget = less debt. And so might be reluctant to agree to large tax cuts.

So, massive social spending cuts on the horizon?

En un viejo país ineficiente, algo así como España entre dos guerras civiles, poseer una casa y poca hacienda y memoria ninguna. -- Gil de Biedma

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Sep 27th, 2009 at 05:10:54 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Difficult to answer but personally I´d say no.

The CDU (and CSU in Bavaria) have seen what happened to the SPD after Schroeder´s reforms. And they know the same could happen to them if they initiate massive social spending cuts. I´m not sure they´re willing to risk that.

What I would expect:

  • Some small "cosmetic" tax cuts sometime in 2010/11
  • A promise to cut taxes further as soon as the situation (economy, budget) allows

Basically a "yes we want to cut taxes but right now the budget situation doesn´t allow it".
by Detlef (Detlef1961_at_yahoo_dot_de) on Mon Sep 28th, 2009 at 06:42:53 AM EST
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