No new tax cuts, SPD warns

25 February 2004

VILSHOFEN – German taxpayers will receive no new tax relief this year, the head of Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) warned Wednesday.

Any further cuts along the lines of last year’s tax relief package would endanger funding for kindergartens, schools and universities, said SPD Chairman-designate Franz Muentefering.

Speaking to 600 conferees at an annual Ash Wednesday SPD party congress, he added, “Anyone who wants the government to retain its capacity to act must see to it that it has the means to act.”

Turning to foreign affairs, Muentefering defended Schroeder’s support for Turkey’s bid to join the European Union. He accused the conservative opposition Christian Democrats of “xenophobic politicking” for stalling on the issue.

DPA
Subject: German news