Free Democratic Party (FDP) leader Wolfgang Gerhard (L) chats with party treasurer Hermann Otto Solms (R) as a member of the board Burkhard Hirsch (C) looks on prior to a meeting of the party leadership, November 24. Solms admits having made mistakes in party funding but rules out resignation. Last week a court has ruled that the party must give back some 12.4 million marks in donations to finance election campaigns.