Berlin - The future of Germany's Defence Minister, Mr Rudolf Scharping, hangs in the balance today as he goes before a parliamentary committee to answer allegations that he used government jets to visit his girlfriend in Frankfurt, Derek Scally reports. Mr Scharping denies any wrongdoing but his antics have only added to the problems of the Chancellor, Mr Schr÷der, as he faces an election year.
The Red-Green government is at odds over new immigration legislation and Mr Schr÷der faces dissent from his own backbenchers over German participation in the NATO mission in Macedonia. Meanwhile the twin economic headache of rising unemployment and slowing growth has ended Mr Schr÷der's hope of delivering on key election promises. Mr Scharping's difficulties began last month when he agreed to let a gossip magazine photograph him cavorting with his girlfriend in a Majorca swimming pool.
