German parties celebrate national holiday with ‘speed coalition dating’

As Germans celebrated the day of national unity on Sunday, their elected parties were left to negotiate the country’s first-ever three-way coalition as a return to the Grand Coalition of Social Democrats and Conservatives seems unlikely.

It was a hectic day for the election-winning Social Democrats as they held exploratory talks with the Greens and the business-friendly liberal FDP, the two parties they hope to form a “traffic light” coalition with.

“We have been able to clarify many things in the first step, and the SPD is now ready for three-way talks,” said SPD secretary general Lars Klingbeil, following talks with the Greens, whom observers understand as natural partners for the Social Democrats.

Despite common will on both sides, talks once again made apparent that “it is clear that there are cliffs”, as stated by FDP general secretary Volker Wissing after discussions with the Social Democrats.

Alluding to clear discrepancies between the parties, Wissing noted that his party saw fewer “cliffs” with the conservative union of CDU/CSU. They are understood to be natural partners and the Conservative’s last hope of entering government via a “Jamaica” coalition which is also election-losing Armin Laschet’s last chance at holding onto power.

“That was a good evening, that was a good start that makes you want more,” said CSU general secretary Markus Blume following the Conservative’s talks with the FDP late on Sunday. The talks were initially planned for Saturday, a date which the CSU torpedoed.

Parties have so far displayed impressive discipline, with no leaks of the mood behind closed doors, or hints at any of the talking points being shared in the media. The comparable negotiations in 2017 are known for having been particularly leak-heavy. (Nikolaus J. Kurmayer  | EURACTIV.de)