BERLIN, Jan 17 (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel met the leaders the two other parties in her coalition on Sunday for what media dubbed a 'crisis meeting' on key policies including tax, but they made no announcements after the talks.
Since the beginning of her second term in October, Merkel's centre-right coalition has been dogged by squabbling between her conservatives, their Bavarian sister party and the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP).
Much of the bickering has centred on tax, with the FDP wanting some 20 billion euros ($28.85 billion) in tax cuts from 2011 or 2012. Many conservatives are more reluctant and want a delay due to Germany's strained public finances.
Coalition sources said the leaders wanted to stick to their coalition agreement to cut taxes, though the timing and planned volume of up to 20 billion euros in further relief would be subject to economic data and tax revenue estimates due in May.
An FDP source said Sunday's 2-1/2 hour meeting was held in 'an excellent atmosphere'.
FDP leader Guido Westerwelle earlier said at an FDP event in Duesseldorf, 'Dear friends from the (conservative) Union, your opponent is not the FDP.'
'Your opponents are the SPD, the Greens the Left Party,' he added, referring to the main opposition parties.
Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble reiterated his position that the government would only decide whether to pursue further tax relief once it receives the new tax estimates in May.
'Whether, when and by how much we'll decide in mid-2010,' Schaeuble, a close Merkel ally, told Focus magazine.
The government has already passed a package of measures worth some 8.5 billion euros bringing tax relief to firms and families from this year.
((For a FACTBOX on problems facing Merkel, double click on ))
(Editing by Elizabeth Fullerton) ($1=.6931 Euro) Keywords: GERMANY COALITION/ (paul.carrel@reuters.com; +49 30 2888 5210; Reuters Messaging: paul.carrel.reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
Since the beginning of her second term in October, Merkel's centre-right coalition has been dogged by squabbling between her conservatives, their Bavarian sister party and the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP).
Much of the bickering has centred on tax, with the FDP wanting some 20 billion euros ($28.85 billion) in tax cuts from 2011 or 2012. Many conservatives are more reluctant and want a delay due to Germany's strained public finances.
Coalition sources said the leaders wanted to stick to their coalition agreement to cut taxes, though the timing and planned volume of up to 20 billion euros in further relief would be subject to economic data and tax revenue estimates due in May.
An FDP source said Sunday's 2-1/2 hour meeting was held in 'an excellent atmosphere'.
FDP leader Guido Westerwelle earlier said at an FDP event in Duesseldorf, 'Dear friends from the (conservative) Union, your opponent is not the FDP.'
'Your opponents are the SPD, the Greens the Left Party,' he added, referring to the main opposition parties.
Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble reiterated his position that the government would only decide whether to pursue further tax relief once it receives the new tax estimates in May.
'Whether, when and by how much we'll decide in mid-2010,' Schaeuble, a close Merkel ally, told Focus magazine.
The government has already passed a package of measures worth some 8.5 billion euros bringing tax relief to firms and families from this year.
((For a FACTBOX on problems facing Merkel, double click on ))
(Editing by Elizabeth Fullerton) ($1=.6931 Euro) Keywords: GERMANY COALITION/ (paul.carrel@reuters.com; +49 30 2888 5210; Reuters Messaging: paul.carrel.reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.