German Budget Debate

Members debated the Kohl government’s 1997 budget proposal. After hearing from an opposition leader, he argued that this budget brings down the deficit enough to join the European Union single currency. Then the major opposition leader argued that the unemployment estimates are too low and the revenue estimates are too high in this budget which will lead to a shortage of funds for those who need governmental assistance and that the government should be more concerned with lowering unemployment than the budget deficit. The Bundestag passed the government’s budget on November 29. Translation from German to English by voiceover. close