Lower Saxony's Minister President Olaf Lies urges calm and responsibility ahead of the coalition committee meeting on major reforms.
Lies told the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland that Germany needs reforms on pensions, health, care and taxes. He said: «We need pace in this - but please no haste.»
The SPD politician called for a clear work plan for the coalition talks. Where agreement exists, action should follow, and reforms must be fair so that stronger shoulders carry more.
CDU state leader Sebastian Lechner proposed postponing the tax reform until next year. He cited difficulties with counter-financing and recommended relief on social insurance contributions instead.
The coalition committee meets on Wednesday in the Chancellery. The income tax reform is seen as the biggest point of contention.