Traffic light coalition: German Greens to hold joint talks with SPD and FDP

Germany’s Green party has announced plans to hold three-way coalition talks with the Social Democrats (SPD) and the Free Democrats (FDP). Although an alliance with Angela Merkel’s CDU party is not totally off the cards, it’s an indication that a so-called “traffic light” coalition will likely form Germany’s next government. 

Germany’s Greens, SPD and FDP start joint talks

The Green party has this week proposed to begin three-way exploratory talks with the SPD and the FDP. “We want that to happen quickly,” said party leader Annalena Baerbock on Wednesday in Berlin.

Co-party leader Robert Habeck added that it was now time to “translate the election result into political action” and end the “artificial game of poker” that has characterised discussions so far in the aftermath of the federal election on September 26. 

CDU and SPD both still hoping to form a government

With the Greens and the pro-business Free Democrats finishing third and fourth in the election, both parties are being courted by the SPD and the CDU. While the SPD has been declared the election winner after taking home the largest share of the vote, the CDU is still entertaining hopes of forming a government, despite sliding to second place. 

The Greens and the FDP first explored possible compromises with each other, as well as holding exploratory meetings with the SPD and the CDU / CSU. While the SPD hopes to form a three-way “traffic light” coalition with the Greens and the FDP (so-called because of the parties’ colours: red, green, and yellow), the CDU is still holding out hope of a “Jamaica” coalition (black, green and yellow). 

Habeck said on Wednesday that the three-way talks between the Greens, SPD and FDP did not necessarily mean they were closing the door on “Jamaica”, but that a possible traffic light coalition was now in the foreground. They are not planning parallel talks with the CDU / CSU. 

Later on Wednesday, CSU leader Markus Söder said the announcement amounted to a "de-facto rejection" of a conservative-led coalition under Jamaica. "There will very likely be no government with the Union," he said. 

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