The Social Democratic Party, the Green Party and the Free Democratic Party will take the next step in forming a government coalition. According to party leaders, the exploratory talks showed that the parties could sit down with each other. This makes the so-called “Traffic Light Coalition” of Social Democrats, Greens and Liberals close together.

“We are convinced that we can conclude an ambitious and sustainable coalition agreement,” Schulz (SPD), Birbock (Greens), and Linder wrote in a joint statement.

The three parties have recently investigated whether there are break points that could lead to a formation collapse, but it seems that there are none. Some of the policy briefs have now been put on paper. These will be presented to the members before final negotiations begin.

Three weeks earlier, the SPD won the Bundestag elections, closely followed by the CDU/CDU, led by Armin Laschet. Schulz and Lachette both hope to form a government with the Greens and the FDP, but now the Christian Democrats seem to be drawing the short straw. If the negotiations are successful, Schulz will succeed Angela Merkel as chancellor after 16 years.

Minimum wages, modernization and windmills

According to SPD leader Schulz, the three parties want to strive for “the most comprehensive modernization of German industry in more than a hundred years”. For example, the number of wind turbines must be increased rapidly to speed up the transmission of energy. Coal should be phased out completely by 2030.

The parties aim for a minimum wage of 12 euros per hour. The two sides also promised not to increase taxes.