BERLIN, June 8 (UPI) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel's proposed budget cuts were quickly assailed by unions and political opposition, who said the poor would be unfairly burdened.
Gustav Horn, a researcher at the Hans Boeckler Foundation, a trade union-supported think tank, said "The German budget was balanced in 2008 before the crisis began and the deficit came only then," Deutsche Welle reported Tuesday.
Horn said she would prefer "that people in the financial district" would pay for the country's financial difficulties.
"Not those who already don't have much money," Horn said.
Critics said the plan had specific cuts mentioned for social services but was vague about how businesses would contribute.
Ver.di union leader Frank Bsirske said business taxes should be raised.
"We can no longer afford to be a country with such low taxes in that respect," he said.
"If we had the same as average tax rates from other eurozone countries on inheritances and property, we would have $44.7 billion," he said.
The plan, which Merkel unveiled Monday, is expected to save $96 billion through 2014.
