Negotiations Between CDU, CSU and SPD on Possible Government Coalition to Start on Friday
According to a report by the “Bild” on Thursday, citing SPD and Union circles, soundings between the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), the Christian Social Union (CSU) and the Social Democratic Party (SPD) on a potential government coalition are set to begin on Friday.
The background to the meeting is the carnival, as if the negotiations did not start before the carnival weekend, the parties would have to wait until after Ash Wednesday and they might be accused of having almost two weeks pass after the federal election without taking action.
The SPD is reportedly sending eight negotiators, four men and four women, as well as General Secretary Matthias Miersch, to the talks. Party leaders Lars Klingbeil and Saskia Esken, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, SPD Vice and Labor Minister Hubertus Heil, SPD NRW Chief and Federal Vice Achim Post, SPD Vice and Saarland Minister-President Anke Rehlinger, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Minister-President Manuela Schwesig and Bundestag President Bärbel Bas are among those participating. The exact team of the Union was initially unclear, but the party chairmen of the CDU and CSU, as well as the general secretaries, are likely to be part of the negotiations, according to the information available.