According to the Greens and the SPD
FDP agrees to coalition negotiations on “traffic light” alliance
“Alternative options to the traffic light more and more unlikely”: FDP boss Christian Lindner on the way to a joint meeting of the FDP federal executive committee
© Paul Zinken / DPA
The FDP has spoken out in favor of coalition negotiations with the SPD and the Greens. The top party bodies voted in Berlin on Monday to start talks on the formation of a joint government.
The FDP paved the way for coalition negotiations with the SPD and the Greens. The federal executive committee and the newly elected parliamentary group unanimously passed a corresponding resolution on Monday, as the German Press Agency learned from participants in a meeting. A negotiating team led by Federal Chairman Christian Lindner had recommended this after the basic features of a future so-called traffic light coalition had already been negotiated in an exploratory paper last week.
The other two parties have already agreed. After the SPD board had voted unanimously for formal talks on a traffic light coalition on Friday, a small party conference of the Greens also agreed on Sunday with two votes against and one abstention. The negotiations could start in a few days.
FDP general secretary is confident
FDP General Secretary Volker Wissing said in the morning that coalition negotiations with the SPD and the Greens would be successful. When asked about a possible failure, Wissing told the broadcaster NDR Info: “This is not an option for us.” You need a stable federal government. “And while we were having the talks, you also saw that alternative options to the traffic light are becoming increasingly unlikely.” He is confident “that we can do it”.
Wissing described discussions about possible appointments in a traffic light government as premature at the present time. “Of course, in the end, when coalition negotiations have been concluded, departmental issues also have to be clarified,” he said. “But I think it is not only premature to address them now, but also not very helpful, because it distracts from the questions of content.” Personnel debates “quickly overran the political talks”. “That doesn’t help anyone now.”
Lindner had previously spoken out against public debates on ministerial posts, but at the same time signaled an interest in the key finance department.