Ongoing explorations
Scholz firmly reckons with the traffic light coalition – “before Christmas”
He is in good spirits when it comes to the new government: SPD election winner Olaf Scholz
© Christoph Soeder / DPA
While the negotiators from the SPD, Greens and FDP are still in the middle of exploratory talks, the matter has already been scratched for Olaf Scholz: The traffic lights will come – and very soon.
SPD Chancellor candidate Olaf Scholz firmly expects that a traffic light coalition with the Greens and FDP will come about this year. “The soundings are taking place in a very, very good and constructive atmosphere,” said Scholz on Wednesday on the sidelines of the autumn meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in Washington. “And that’s why I’m sure that the plan that all three parties who are exploring here together can also be realized.”
This plan is “that we will have a new government before Christmas,” said Scholz. When asked whether he would give the New Year’s address as the newly elected Federal Chancellor, the current Federal Minister of Finance and Vice Chancellor said: “When the government is in place, everyone will do their job.”
Traffic light parties want to draw their first conclusions on Friday
Because of Scholz’s visit to Washington, the explorations by the SPD, Greens and FDP were interrupted and are to be continued on Friday. Then the three parties want to present a basis for decision-making for the possible start of official coalition negotiations, which could then start in the coming week.
The general secretaries of the SPD and FDP, Lars Klingbeil and Volker Wissing, as well as the Greens federal manager Michael Kellner want to present a paper with the results of the previous deliberations by Friday. The explorers then want to make a recommendation to the party committees as to whether coalition negotiations should be started.