With exploratory talks in different constellations, Germany’s parties will again sound out the possibilities for a joint government formation on Sunday. One week after the federal election, the SPD and the Union are fully engaged in the struggle for a future federal government. The explorers of the Social Democrats want to discuss this Sunday for about two hours separately with the FDP and the Greens on a traffic light coalition sought by Chancellor candidate Olaf Scholz (63).
In the evening, representatives of the CDU and CSU want to explore opportunities for a Jamaica alliance with the Greens for the first time with the FDP. Before that, there had already been meetings between the Greens and the FDP. A discussion between the CDU / CSU and the Greens is also planned for Tuesday morning. Both the SPD, which had become the strongest force in the Bundestag election, and the Union would have to rely on the support of both the Greens and the FDP to form a government.
Greens and the FDP, as courted partners, had recently met twice for confidential rounds, on Friday they demonstrated unity after a meeting. At a small party conference in Berlin on Saturday, the Greens expressed their confidence that they would belong to a future coalition. After the historic election debacle of the Union, Chancellor candidate and CDU leader Armin Laschet (60) is now coming under increasing pressure in his own ranks.
Traffic light coalition or Jamaica alliance?
The SPD had become the strongest force in the Bundestag election last Sunday with 25.7 percent. The Union fell to a low of 24.1 percent. The Greens came in number three with 14.8 percent. Behind was the FDP with 11.5 percent.
The traffic light coalition sought by the SPD is viewed positively by the majority of the population, according to surveys. The FDP had preferred a Jamaica alliance. Laschet had made it clear that he wanted to form such a coalition despite the election debacle.
On Sunday the SPD meets in Berlin first at 3:30 p.m. with the FDP and then with the Greens at 6:00 p.m. A six-person delegation is to come for the SPD, the party is relying on rapid explorations. The Greens and the FDP each send delegations of ten. The FDP group around party leader Christian Lindner (42) comes together in the evening at 6.30 p.m. for a first round of talks with the Union. Statements should be made after each round.
FDP-Lindner in the eye-catcher
Laschet met with members of the CDU exploratory team in Berlin on Saturday to prepare for talks with the FDP on Sunday and the Greens on Tuesday. CDU General Secretary Paul Ziemiak told the “Bild am Sonntag”: “We are going into talks with the FDP and the Greens with a great sense of responsibility.” He added: “We want to make our contribution in a new future alliance to create something new for our country.”
FDP General Secretary Volker Wissing emphasized in the newspapers of the Funke media group (Sunday) that the FDP was openly in talks with the Union and the SPD. «We have our own core values and an independent program that we want to implement. For this we need allies. ” The future government must be progressive and ready to reform. At the same time, he called on the Union to clarify “whether they are pulling together”. The “Rheinische Post” had reported that there was great shaking of the head in the CSU over difficult agreements with the CDU. The former CDU chairman Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer (59) recently warned the union parties to remain united.
FDP leader Lindner also turned to the Union. He told “Bild am Sonntag” that the CDU and CSU would have to clarify whether they really wanted to lead a government. «Some of the CDU’s speeches speculate that negotiations with the SPD should fail before the Union comes back into play. You can’t expect our country to do that. We are ready for serious talks with the Union and, conversely, we hope for the same. “
Pressure on Laschet increases
After the election debacle, the CDU is discussing a new structure in terms of content and personnel more and more openly, and the pressure on party leader Laschet is increasing. “There must be a federal party congress for this, no later than January,” said party vice Jens Spahn (41) of “Welt am Sonntag”. “Nobody can deny that mistakes were made in the election campaign and that our top candidate did not draw properly.” Several CDU politicians called for a member vote on a new line-up if the Jamaica explorations should fail.
The former SPD chairman Martin Schulz (65) said “Bild am Sonntag” when asked about reasons for Laschet’s continuation: “Laschet clings to the Jamaica perspective because he believes this is his life insurance.” That leads to a hanging game in the Union. “If it weren’t for the theoretical possibility of Jamaica, Laschet would have been forced to resign by his own people. None of his enemies have really come out of cover yet, because none of them want to be the bad guy. “
He couldn’t understand Laschet’s doggedness. “Anyone who incurs a minus of nine percent in a federal election cannot claim to lead the country.” Schulz had clearly lost the 2017 election as candidate for chancellor. (SDA)