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First, the Greens first “knocked” with the FDP last week, without whose participation the new German coalition government will probably not do. On Sunday, the two sides held separate talks with the victorious Social Democrats from the SPD.
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It is the SPD politicians, who narrowly won the parliamentary elections, who are optimistic after the first meetings. For example, party health expert Karl Lauterbach said he was “firmly convinced that there would be a traffic light coalition.” The red-yellow-green coalition would reflect the party colors of the participating groups.
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According to Lauterbach, the three-party coalition would enable reforms: modern SPD social policy, the Greens’ environmental policy and digitization, and the FDP’s concept of freedom. On the contrary, the Social Democrat described another possible coalition, the so-called Jamaican, or CDU / CSU, Greens and FDP, as unstable. “Centrifugal forces are too great in such a coalition,” Lauterbach quotes RND.
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It’s too early for a tripartite meeting
SPD Secretary General Lars Klingbeil described Sunday’s talks with potential coalition partners as “pleasant, constructive and objective.” The interviews were also praised by the Greens’ manager Michael Kellner. According to him, they were “good and dynamic”. However, according to the Greens, it is still early for a tripartite meeting.
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The statements from the liberal FDP, which finished fourth in the election, look different. After Sunday’s meeting with the SPD, party secretary general Volke Wissig told the media that his party wanted to wait for the CDU / CSU meeting with the Greens, which is to take place on Tuesday. He also pointed out the differences between the FDP and the SPD on fundamental issues. Liberals reject tax increases and the removal of the debt brake.
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The fact that the CDU / CSU is not yet out of the game is also confirmed by the words of Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmerman, a member of the FDP Federal Executive Committee. “The CDU is still in the game and we will see what it will be like in the end,” the politician told SWR Aktuell on the radio.
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Laschet’s back
However, the German media warns that the position of the Christian Democrats is complicated after the poor election result, and the voices criticizing CDU leader Armin Laschet have intensified in the party. More and more conservative politicians are calling for personnel and program changes, writes ARD.
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However, Lascheta was defended on Monday by CDU politician Norbert Röttgen, who is paying the party as one of the candidates for his replacement. According to him, Laschet did well that he did not resign immediately after the election and began talks with the FPD and the Greens.
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The daily Süddeutsche Zeitung in that context he wrotethat the open power struggle will begin in the CDU as soon as it becomes clear about the “traffic light coalition” led by Olaf Scholz. The mentioned Röttgen and also the Federal Minister of Health Jens Spahn have a chance.
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