- Title: German FDP prefers coalition government with Laschet's CDU, not Scholz's SPD
- Date: 29th September 2021
- Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (SEPTEMBER 29, 2021) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (German) FREE DEMOCRATS (FDP) GENERAL SECRETARY, VOLKER WISSING, SAYING: "It's very important to us that initial discussions can happen in a trustworthy and confidential manner. That is what we ensured together which is why I can't tell you anything about the contents of these discussions (with the Greens on Tuesday). However, since we are obviously aware of the great public interest, we decided to let a picture speak for itself. That's what we did." WISSING SPEAKING ON STAGE, SEEN THROUGH PLASTIC PROTECTIVE SHIELD WISSING WALKING OFF
- Embargoed: 13th October 2021 14:09
- Keywords: Free Democrats FDP General Secretary Volker Wissing German coalition negotiations
- Location: BERLIN, GERMANY
- City: BERLIN, GERMANY
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Europe,Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
- Reuters ID: LVA003EWRTQ2V
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Germany's pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) favour a coalition government with Armin Laschet's CDU over the SPD of Olaf Scholz and they plan further talks with the Greens before meeting the CDU and the SPD at the weekend about building a three-way coalition, the FDP's secretary general said on Wednesday (September 29).
Volker Wissing's comments came after a smiling selfie of FDP and Green leaders together at an initial meeting went viral and became the subject of jokes.
The Greens and FDP, from opposite ends of the political spectrum and at odds on a range of major issues from finance to climate protection, are seen as kingmakers after an election on Sunday that was narrowly won by the Social Democrats (SPD).
Both the centre-left SPD and Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative bloc, which slumped to a record low result, would need the centre-right FDP and leftist Greens as partners to get a parliamentary majority for a coalition government.
FDP Secretary General Wissing said he could reveal nothing about the talks late on Tuesday as the small circle had agreed to stay mum, but that a bigger group of people from both parties would meet again on Friday.
(Production: Oliver Ellrodt, Stefan Remter, Michele Sani) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2021. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
