A week before national elections in Germany, opposition Christian Democrat leaders are attempting to sideline Paul Kirchhof, the shadow finance minister, fearing his controversial tax proposals could cost the centre-right what was seen as an assured victory a month ago.

Chancellor Gerhard Schröder's Social Democratic party staged a recovery in opinion polls last week. Although it may come too late to prevent Angela Merkel, the CDU leader, from entering the chancellery on September 18, it could force her to form a coalition with the SPD.