The party's budgetary expert Otto Fricke told the Bild daily newspaper that “the size of every ministry is being challenged.” This was in reference, he said, to the two percent cuts that they believe necessary to keep the country financially powerful.
It would, Fricke said, save the six billion euros that Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble said Germany needed to cut. It would also make sure the country stayed the “financial role model of Europe.”
The Green Party had other ideas though and called the FDP's across-the-board cuts a “lawnmower tactic that was not going to help.”
In the meeting on January 31st where ministries will have to present their ideas on how to save money, the party is expected to suggest cuts to the armed forces and environmentally harmful subsidiaries.
On March 20th the cabinet will settle the key elements of the 2014 budget and final decisions should be made on July 26th, Die Welt newspaper reported.
The Local/jcw
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