Traffic light conversation: Greens see climate protection as a “red line” – FDP attacks CSU

Traffic light conversation: Greens see climate protection as a “red line” – FDP attacks CSU

Shortly before their first exploratory meeting for three, the parties made their sticking points clear. For the Greens, climate protection is the “red line” – the FDP absolutely do not want any tax increases. Discussions are inevitable.

The SPD, the Greens and the FDP will come together in Berlin on Thursday morning for a first exploratory discussion. At the meeting, which is scheduled for six hours, the possibilities for the formation of a joint traffic light coalition under the leadership of SPD chancellor candidate Olaf Scholz are to be explored.

SPD General Secretary Lars Klingbeil was optimistic before the talks: “I don’t even think about the fact that they might not work,” said the SPD politician in the ZDF “Morgenmagazin”. He sees an opportunity “to make real social progress with these three parties”. The SPD is therefore going into the explorations “with the will that at the end of the day there will be a traffic light coalition that Olaf Scholz will become Chancellor”. It is important, however, that “in a government every party with its main focus is visible”.

Greens: Climate protection is “alpha and omega”

Green leader Robert Habeck highlighted climate protection as a “red line” for his party before the exploratory talks at 11 o’clock. “If this government does not manage to get Germany on the climate protection path from Paris, then it has missed its historical task and that is why we cannot participate”, Habeck said in the ZDF “Morgenmagazin”. There are “many unsolved problems” with the FDP and the SPD, said Habeck. “Nothing is guaranteed, but of course there are also ways to build bridges.” He sees no reason for further talks with the Union, “unless things go wrong here”.

Party leader Annalena Baerbock also emphasized on Deutschlandfunk that climate protection was “the alpha and omega” for the Greens. “The next federal government has to be a climate government,” she clarified. Baerbock admitted that there had been differences between the Greens and the FDP in this area before the election. On the other hand, she was confident about the SPD candidate for Chancellor Olaf Scholz. During the election campaign, he made it clear that “climate protection should be the focus” in the new federal government.

The leader of the Greens explained that the struggle for the first three-party coalition at federal level was “a special challenge. In addition to climate protection, she also named” the modernization of the administration “as the central challenges Baerbock emphasized that the SPD had a special role as the strongest force, but it assumed that all three parties agreed that “the coalition must act on an equal footing.”

FDP against tax increases

For the FDP, the three-way exploration will be about “now to deal with the question of what a common understanding of a government can look like”, explained FDP General Secretary Volker Wissing in the ZDF “Morgenmagazin”. Such a traffic light alliance must have “added value” compared to other government constellations, said the FDP General Secretary. A “patchwork quilt” should not simply come out of the party programs.

As a red line for his party, Wissing affirmed: There should be no tax increases. “We’re not going to give in at this point,” he said. “We said that before the election and we say now that we will stick with it.”

For the FDP, a three-way alliance with the Union and the Greens remains an option, said the Secretary General. “We didn’t close Jamaica.” However, from the FDP’s point of view, it “makes no sense”, as CSU politicians have called for, to negotiate at the same time about a “traffic light” and about “Jamaica”. In the FDP there is “a substantive proximity to the Union,” emphasized Wissing. “That’s why we didn’t think it was very wise that Mr. Söder has now taken opportunities off the table.”

Dispute with CSU over Jamaica option

The day before, CSU boss Markus Söder had assessed the decision of the FDP to first consult with the SPD and the Greens on the formation of a government as a “de facto rejection” of a Jamaica coalition and expressed the expectation that there would actually be a traffic light Alliance will come about. FDP boss Christian Lindner then said on Wednesday evening in the ARD “Tagesthemen” for his party that Jamaica “remains a viable option” – “I expressly say that to the CSU”.

The chairman of the FDP youth organization Junge Liberale, Jens Teutrine, said on Thursday on the Bayern 2 broadcaster that there was definitely a chance for a Jamaica coalition. “Then Markus Söder came and said the drops had been sucked, the matter was decided.” Söder is currently “a bit on an ego trip” and is particularly damaging to CDU boss Armin Laschet, who wants to hold on to the option of a Jamaica coalition.

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