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SPD Chancellor candidate Olaf Scholz: »Of course, contacts«
Photo: Ina Fassbender / AFP
Olaf Scholz wants to form a "social-ecological-liberal coalition" with the Greens and the FDP.
This was announced by the SPD candidate for chancellor after deliberations in the presidium of his party.
He now wants to talk to both parties in order to form a government as soon as possible.
He and his party wanted to approach this "very modestly" and pragmatically.
Scholz spoke of a "clear mandate from the voters" for the formation of a government with Greens and Liberals.
The SPD candidate for Chancellor said that these two parties, like his party, had won the federal election.
There are "of course contacts" with the Greens and the FDP.
Scholz pointed out that the SPD had already formed a coalition with both parties in the federal government in its history.
In Rhineland-Palatinate, the three parties are already in a joint government.
"We'll be quick"
"We'll be quick," said Scholz when a British journalist asked about the pace of a possible government formation.
In his opinion, this should be there by Christmas if possible.
"The citizens want a change," said the SPD politician.
Scholz referred to the good results of his party in populous countries as well as the victories of the SPD in the elections in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
The first foreign policy priority is to strengthen Europe, said Scholz when asked by a US journalist about the possible future relationship with a Biden government that confronts China.
At the same time, the relationship with the USA and the transatlantic partnership remained "essential," according to the SPD politician.
"You can rely on the continuity."
When asked what he thinks about reports that the Greens and the FDP should already speak to each other, Scholz said: "It's completely ok." He wanted to form a coalition with trust among the partners.
That is why the coalition negotiations should not take place "in public" with "slips of paper" inserted.
SPD parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich should also remain chairman of the new parliamentary group.
"We agree that the current group leader is a really great man," said Scholz.
Mützenich was a "very important building block for our common building".
"A good man, and we need him there." The new SPD parliamentary group elects its boss on Wednesday.
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