Status: 10/6/2021 1:50 p.m.
The Greens, FDP and SPD want to quickly enter into exploratory talks on a red-green-yellow coalition. CSU boss Söder sees this as a clear rejection of a Jamaica coalition. CDU boss Laschet is still available for Jamaica soundings.
CSU boss Markus Söder has rated the decision by the Greens and FDP to hold three-way talks with the SPD as a “de facto rejection of Jamaica”. Söder spoke of a “clear preliminary decision”. “The FDP and the Greens have decided on this route of traffic lights. They now have to follow it consistently,” said Söder in Munich. The CSU respects the decision. Reality must now be recognized. One had to get used to the fact that there would very likely be a government without the Union.
The Greens and the FDP had previously agreed to offer the SPD the opportunity to enter into exploratory talks about a traffic light coalition. According to his own statement, FDP boss Christian Lindner has already offered talks to the SPD chancellor candidate Olaf Scholz for tomorrow. Both the Greens and the FDP rejected parallel talks with the Union.
“The decision has now been made,” said Söder, pointing out that the FDP and the Greens could have held three-party talks with the SPD and the Union in parallel. The Union will only come back into play if the formation of a coalition between the SPD, Greens and FDP should fail, Söder said. “If the traffic light fails, then Scholz has failed as a candidate for chancellor. But what makes no sense is to conduct shadow negotiations,” he added. But it is now also about “self-respect and dignity,” said Söder. “We remain ready to talk, but not in a kind of permanent wait position.”
Laschet still sees an opportunity for the Jamaica coalition
Despite the decision by the Greens and the FDP to explore a traffic light coalition with the SPD, CDU leader Armin Laschet is sticking to the possibility of forming a government under the leadership of the Union. “We have always made it clear that the FDP and the Greens will decide on the further procedure,” said Laschet in a brief statement in front of TV cameras in Düsseldorf.
“We respect that there are now joint talks between the FDP, the Greens and the SPD.” The Union’s candidate for chancellor added: “We have signaled: We are also ready for further talks. But the decision of who to speak to and in which order rests with the FDP and the Greens.”