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German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder (C) stands among deputies at the parliament in the Berlin's Reichstag, Friday 17 October 2003. Chancellor Schroeder won key votes Friday in the Bundestag, lower house of parliament. Despite earlier grumbling among his Social Democrats, they and Schroeder's Greens allies lined up behind the government to accelerate tax cuts by 12 months to revive Germany's lagging economy. Apart from moving tax cuts forward from 2005 to 2004, items passed Friday prune back subsidies for home-owners and commuters. Also on the order paper were reforms to Germany's social-welfare system, aimed at reducing labour costs by trimming exorbitant welfare levies. EPA/PEER GRIMM