- Title: FDP willing to talk to Greens but express doubts about compatibility
- Date: 27th September 2021
- Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (SEPTEMBER 27, 2021) (REUTERS) ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VANS WITH FDP ADVERTS PARKED OUTSIDE FDP HEADQUARTERS VARIOUS OF FDP SIGNS VARIOUS OF FDP MEMBERS IN PARTY HEADQUARTERS VARIOUS OF FDP LEADER CHRISTIAN LINDNER SITTING FDP PARTY MEMBERS DOOR BEING CLOSED
- Embargoed: 11th October 2021 17:18
- Keywords: Christian Lindner FDP German election Greens coalition traffic light
- Location: BERLIN, GERMANY
- City: BERLIN, GERMANY
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Europe,Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
- Reuters ID: LVA001EWHVDQF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Germany's Free Democrats (FDP) want to hold initial talks with the Greens with the goal of finding common ground before broader negotiations with a third party on forming a coalition government, party leader Christian Lindner said on Monday (September 27).
"We have decided that we want to launch sounding out talks with the Greens," he said at a news conference.
"The biggest policy differences are between the FDP and Greens and that's why it makes sense given the polarisation to try to find common ground. At the same time, the Greens and FDP are the parties most opposed to the status quo of the grand coalition," Lindner said, adding that neither the conservatives nor the SPD stands for a new approach.
Party leader Christian Lindner made his announcements after consultations with the federal executive board in Berlin.
Lindner has previously said legalising cannabis is about the only thing his party could easily agree with the SPD and Greens.
While the liberals are far to the right of the SPD and Greens on economics, they might compromise if it means they win control of the Finance Ministry.
The FDP is against higher taxes, with the exception of the large Internet corporations, and there would also be no softening of the debt brake.
(Production: Tanya Wood, various) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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