The negotiations on next year’s government spending plans are in the final stages, D66 leader Alexander Pechtold told reporters on Monday.

D66 is one of three opposition parties involved in the talks on the budget, because the government needs to ensure it has majority support in the senate.

Only a few outstanding issues remain to be solved, Pechtold said. All five parties are due to meet again on Wednesday. The budget will be formally presented to parliament on September 16.

A few details have already been leaked. There will be more money for the defence ministry, spending on development aid will go up and income tax is likely to be cut in the lowest tax band.