German Economic Minister Wolfgang Clement (R) talks to finance expert
Friedrich Merz from the oppositional Christian Democratic Union (CDU)
before a vote at the lower house of parliament Bundestag in Berlin
October 17, 2003. German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder faces a
parliamentary vote on the biggest welfare state overhaul in decades
aimed at reviving the economy after three years of stagnation.
Schroeder's slim nine-seat majority looks set to hold on Friday after
he overcame a rebellion in his centre-left Social Democrats party
against the reforms by softening measures to force the long-term
unemployed to take on low-paid jobs. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann REUTERS

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