Traffic light alliance
“A departure is possible here”: party leaders from the SPD, Greens and FDP for coalition negotiations
From left: Robert Habeck and Annalena Baerbock, the party chairmen of Bündis 90 / Die Grünen, SPD chancellor candidate Olaf Scholz and FDP party leader Christian Lindner
© Kay Nietfeld / DPA
The formation of a government in Germany is progressing. But before the first traffic light coalition can actually be negotiated at the federal level, one last hurdle has to be overcome.
The SPD, the Greens and the FDP have agreed on a joint exploratory paper that should form the basis for starting coalition negotiations. “A departure is possible here, supported by the three parties,” said SPD chancellor candidate Olaf Scholz on Friday in Berlin.
“We are convinced that we can conclude an ambitious and sustainable coalition agreement,” says the joint paper on the results of the explorations. “The exploratory talks were characterized by trust, respect and mutual consideration. We want to continue that.”
In the case of the Greens, a small party congress is to deal with the result of the explorations, which could meet at short notice on the weekend. The FDP also wants to deal with party committees with the result of the explorations.
SPD Chancellor candidate Scholz made it clear that it was about progress and modernization in many areas. Scholz also highlighted the trustworthiness of the exploratory talks as very “remarkable” and “beneficial”.
Among other things, he named a massive expansion of renewable energies as important topics in order to be able to dispense with fossil fuels as quickly as possible. It is about the greatest industrial modernization that Germany has seen in 100 years. Scholz also named cohesion and respect as goals. Among other things, he referred to the desired improvements in housing construction, the minimum wage and stable pensions. For this, the pension insurance should be equipped with additional funds.
The SPD, Greens and FDP want a faster coal phase-out, reduce electricity costs, and no general speed limit
Among other things, the SPD, Greens and FDP are striving for a faster coal exit. In the joint paper of the three parties on the results of the explorations it says: “In order to meet the climate protection goals, an accelerated phase-out of coal-fired power generation is necessary. Ideally, this will be achieved by 2030.” So far, the coal phase-out is planned by 2038 at the latest. The paper goes on to say: “This requires the massive expansion of renewable energies we are striving for and the construction of modern gas-fired power plants in order to meet the increasing demand for electricity and energy over the next few years at competitive prices.”
In addition, the potential traffic light partners do not want a general speed limit on German motorways. “We want to make Germany the lead market for electromobility and therefore massively accelerate the expansion of the charging station infrastructure. There will be no general speed limit,” says the paper.
The SPD, Greens and FDP also want to reduce electricity costs for private households and businesses. “In the course of the legislative period we will end the financing of the EEG surcharge through the electricity price as soon as possible,” says the paper. “In this way we are reducing electricity costs for private households and businesses.” With the billions of dollars under the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG), green electricity systems are funded. It was only announced on Friday that the surcharge would decrease significantly in 2022. However, it is only part of the electricity price.
Next step towards forming a government
The start of coalition negotiations is an important step on the way to a common government. In previous exploratory talks, the SPD, Greens and FDP have explored differences and similarities without obligation. Those who start coalition negotiations, on the other hand, do so with the clear intention of forming a joint government. However, failure cannot be ruled out in this phase either.
SPD Chancellor candidate Olaf Scholz had recently shown confidence that the traffic light government would come to a standstill quickly. “The soundings are taking place in a very, very good and constructive atmosphere,” he said in Washington. That is why he is sure that the project of the SPD, Greens and FDP can be realized. “Namely, that we have a new government before Christmas.”
The SPD won the federal election on September 26 with 25.7 percent, just ahead of the Union (24.1 percent). Scholz then announced that he wanted to explore the possibilities of the first traffic light coalition at the federal level.
After the election, the Greens and FDP were considered kingmakers. Mathematically, they could have entered into a traffic light coalition with the SPD as well as a Jamaica alliance with the Union. Initially, they did not rule out either option, but after several rounds of talks they decided to start exploring them more intensively with the Social Democrats.