In the event of government participation, the FDP insists on its election promise that there will be no tax increases. “The FDP has said that clearly, and the FDP is not moving away from this position either,” said General Secretary Volker Wissing in the ZDF morning magazine. “That was a clear statement.”
We know that tax policy is always a major hurdle for coalitions, and everyone knew that before the election. This was the case in the past with the CDU, and it is now especially so with the SPD. The party programs are clearly different and the liberals are closer to the CDU and CSU in terms of content, said Wissing. “But the Union’s willingness to implement tax reforms in the past was also manageable.”
In an effort to form a government, the FDP continues to rely on coordination with the Greens. “We also have to be careful that in the end we don’t get caught up with the Greens and the FDP in such a way that there can only be one grand coalition,” said Wissing. “That’s why things have to be closely coordinated this time.”
In response to the question of how to proceed further, he said: “First of all we are waiting for the conversation that the Greens are having with the Union. We will then do our internal evaluation, we will also compare it – because the Greens and the FDP are allowed to get caught it doesn’t exist. ” If the Greens and the Union had their upcoming conversation, he was in favor “that you then draw an interim balance and make an interim decision,” said Wissing. (04.10.2021)
SPD wants early three-way talks with the FDP and the Greens
After separate explorations with the FDP and the Greens about the formation of a government, the SPD hopes for early talks in a three-way format. “The SPD is now ready for three-way talks,” said SPD General Secretary Lars Klingbeil after more than two hours of talks with the Greens and the FDP. He pointed out that the Union is still holding talks with the FDP on Sunday evening and with the Greens on Tuesday. After that there will be a decision. “Our wish would be for three-way talks to take place quickly,” emphasized Klingbeil.
After talking to the SPD, Greens leader Robert Habeck praised the Social Democrats’ willingness to get things moving. “We also found a willingness in the SPD and determined to actually start all over again, to spark a dynamic that can then perhaps solve the remaining problems,” he said. “Politics is always looking for intersections. We were now primarily looking for dynamics.”
It was agreed not to disclose the content of the conversation. Klingbeil named a few topics that were discussed: climate protection, digitization, modernization of the state and Europe. These had already been named after the previous conversation between the SPD and FDP. “It was really a constructive atmosphere and a very good conversation,” he said now. Green leader Annalena Baerbock spoke of trusting talks.
Even after the meeting between the Union and the FDP there are benevolent words from both sides: FDP General Secretary Volker Wissing assessed the first round of talks about a possible federal government with the Union as positive. “We had a constructive conversation and we have few cliffs in terms of content,” said Wissing in Berlin after a sounding with the negotiating team of the CDU and CSU. After a three-hour conversation with CDU General Secretary Paul Ziemiak and CSU General Secretary Markus Blume before the press.
Blume emphasized the substantive proximity to the Liberals: “We are very close together on the essential substantive points,” he said. “That leaves you wanting more.” Ziemiak also emphasizes the agreement with the FDP on key points and speaks of “large overlaps in terms of content”.
When asked whether he considers the Union to be capable of governing in its current state, Volker Wissing said: “We have agreed to keep the conversation confidential.” For this reason, he does not want to undertake any further evaluation of the content of the conversation. (03.10.2021)
The SPD and FDP speak of a “constructive” initial exploration
One week after the general election, the struggle for a new government alliance is in full swing. On Sunday, the SPD of Chancellor candidate Olaf Scholz met with the FDP leadership to sound out the chances of a traffic light coalition. After the two-hour conversation, the general secretaries of both parties, Lars Klingbeil (SPD) and Volker Wissing (FDP), described an objective and constructive atmosphere in the early evening – but reserved an assessment of the content.
Immediately afterwards, the SPD and the Greens began their first explorations. In competition with this, a first round of the CDU and CSU with the FDP should follow in the evening. In parallel to the explorations, Union Chancellor candidate Armin Laschet (CDU) is coming under increasing pressure in his own ranks after the election debacle. The FDP called on the Union for internal clarifications.
The SPD is counting on rapid progress in the talks with the FDP and the Greens. It should be decided quickly how to proceed, said Klingbeil. In terms of content, they spoke with the FDP about major challenges for Germany: Specifically, he mentioned the issues of climate, digitization, modernization of the state as well as global and European political issues.
Wissing emphasized: “Of course it was also clear that our content positions differed in essential points.” But it was known that there were these cliffs. “It is also clear that we are determined to form a reform government that will bring our country forward,” he emphasized. The party wanted to give a final evaluation of the explorations only after the meeting with all exploratory partners. According to Wissing, talks with the Union are taken seriously. He had previously told the newspapers of the Funke media group: “The Union must also clarify whether it is pulling together.”
The Greens expressed confidence that they would belong to a future coalition. “If we don’t act completely stupid, we will not only support this government for the next four years, but also have a significant say in it,” said party leader Robert Habeck on Saturday at a small party conference. Chancellor candidate Annalena Baerbock said her party was elected by seven million people, including many young people. This gives an order as part of the government to ensure a real renewal of the country. The 120,000 Greens members are to vote on a coalition agreement and the staffing of a possible government. (03.10.2021)
Lindner increases pressure on the Union
Immediately before the first exploratory rounds, the FDP increased the pressure on the Union. “The CDU and CSU must clarify whether they really want to lead a government,” said FDP leader Christian Lindner Picture on sunday. “Some of the speeches from the CDU speculate that negotiations with the SPD should fail before the Union comes back into play. You cannot expect our country to do that.” With this, Lindner reports doubts about a Jamaica coalition made up of the Union, the Greens and the FDP.
The FDP leader confirms that his party is ready for serious talks with the Union. “One thing is clear: our overlaps are greater with the Union parties than with the SPD.” The Greens, who see more in common with the SPD than with the Union, set the course for the explorations at a small party congress on Saturday.
Despite the internal party criticism of Union Chancellor candidate Armin Laschet, CDU General Secretary Paul Ziemiak relies on a Jamaica coalition. “We want to make our contribution in a new future alliance,” he said Picture on sunday. Angela Merkel must now become more visible. “
SPD leader Norbert Walter-Borjans was confident that his party would come to an agreement with the Greens and the FDP by December. “We don’t have to probe until we drop this time,” he said World on sunday. You need a big common line and you don’t have to write down every detail in a coalition agreement. (03.10.2021)