On Thursday, Germany’s three political parties—the Social Democrats (SPD), the Liberals (FDP), and the Greens—revealed their intention to finalise negotiations for a coalition government by the end of November, and install a new government led by the SPD’s Olaf Scholz by December 6.
Following the first round of negotiations, FDP Secretary-General Volker Wissing said, “We are very ambitious, and we want to have a (coalition) contract by the end of November that will allow us to elect a chancellor for the Federal Republic of Germany in the week of December 6.”
Likewise, SPD general secretary Lars Klingbeil said the parties are waiting to hear from 22 specialist working groups by November 10. He added, “The mood is good, but we know what a responsibility we three parties now have to successfully and quickly begin coalition talks and bring them to a conclusion.”
The SPD won the German federal election on September 26, narrowly beating outgoing German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative Christian Democratic Union party led by Armin Laschet. The Greens and the Liberals have declared the SPD as their preference for a coalition government.
Last week, all three parties held preliminary rounds of coalition talks and laid the foundation of their future partnership in a 12-page agreement, reviewing subjects of contention and the reforms the parties plan to implement in the next four years. The parties reached a consensus on several issues, including climate protection, no tax increases, increasing the minimum hourly wage to €12, respect for debt limits, and bringing forward the target for the exit from coal to 2030.
Despite this, many issues remain unresolved, such as the rift over the financing of the huge investments demanded by the Greens and the SPD and the budgetary constraints highlighted by the Liberals. The portfolio for the minister of finance also remains a point of contention between the Greens and the Liberals.
As a way forward, political experts from all three parties are expected to divide themselves into 22 working groups for suggestions on the broader governmental agenda by November 10. Next, the senior leaders of all three parties will review the recommendations to finalise the agreement by the end of next month. Afterwards, the parties will validate the completed contract for the FDP and online voting for the Greens at a special congress. Subsequently, the Parliament will formally elect Scholz as the next chancellor of Germany.
At the same time, however, Armin Laschet has continued to express his willingness to form the government if Scholz’s coalition fails.
Germany Aims to Form Next Coalition Government By December
Germany’s Social Democratic Party, Greens, and Liberals remain hopeful of finalising negotiations for a coalition government by the end of next month and installing the new government by December 6.
October 22, 2021
SOURCE: DAILY SABAH