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At a press conference, the FDP, SPD and Greens gave initial statements on the status of the explorations
Photo: Michele Tantussi / REUTERS
The SPD, Greens and FDP have continued their explorations via a traffic light coalition.
At a press conference, the general secretary of the SPD, Lars Klingbeil, and Michael Kellner, the federal manager of the Greens, were confident that the three parties could find common ground.
Both spoke of a good start to the talks.
Volker Wissing, General Secretary of the FDP, was less optimistic.
Klingbeil said he was certain "that we can overcome the hurdles together." The awareness of shared responsibility has increased.
Everyone understood that together we are strong.
Kellner emphasized that the amount of differences had become smaller, but that there were still questions to be clarified.
Wissing spoke of polite and factual discussions, but made it clear that it was something different to conduct "polite and factual" discussions than to put solutions on paper.
They now want to analyze the talks within the party and then have a basis for decision-making by Friday as to whether to recommend starting coalition negotiations.
The three parties had already spoken to each other on Monday.
In the next few days there will be a pause in the official explorations because SPD Chancellor candidate Olaf Scholz has to travel to Washington for a meeting of finance ministers.
After Scholz's return, it should continue on Friday, then the parties want to take stock.
lau / svs