Traffic light before the "hour of truth": probers explain the current state of affairs - first decision probably this week

The explorers from the SPD, Greens and FDP have announced a new water level.

Obviously, thick boards are already being drilled - the "moment of truth" strikes.

The ticker.

• The traffic light explorations continue on the second day: On Tuesday (October 12), the SPD, FDP and the Greens will talk about a possible formation of a government.

• There should also be agreements behind the scenes on the extended schedule - in favor of Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) (

  see initial report

  ).

• All developments on Tuesday here in our ticker for the traffic light exploratory talks.

Update from October 12, 2:15 p.m.:

The first press statement from the traffic light explorer this week is over.

It was given by the general secretaries and the managing directors of the SPD, FDP and the Greens.

Lars Klingbeil, Volker Wissing and Michael Kellner again referred to “polite and factual discussions” - but what is new is the clarification that negotiations are already taking place over the greatest differences in content.

All three opposed the impression that a positive outcome from these delicate negotiations would mean a coalition. Nevertheless, it is clear that on Friday there will be a very decisive hint for the traffic light. In view of the difficult overall political situation and the barely negotiable Union, it seems unlikely that a fundamental agreement on detailed issues would break up.

The explorers have also specified the timetable until Friday: On Wednesday and Thursday, the general secretaries and their teams are to write down the previous contents of the conversation and transform them into a final basis for negotiation for the next exploratory date with the party leaders.

In this context, Wissing spoke of an “hour of truth”.

The three explorers also made it clear that there is no obligation to meet this self-set deadline.

Traffic light explorations: SPD, Greens and FDP are already negotiating the major "hurdles"

Update from October 12, 2:12 p.m.:

Has the traffic light become more likely today?

Klingbeil gently evades: “I think we're on the right track,” he says.

Wissing goes back to the fact that it is “not consistent” to assume that a coalition agreement is signed and sealed with explorations.

Kellner explains the task for the next two days: There had been intensive debates for over 14 hours - "Put that down in writing, that's a big task".

On the basis of the paper, discussions will continue on Friday and a conclusion will probably also be drawn.

+

The three from the probing site: Volker Wissing, Lars Klingbeil and Michael Kellner (from left to right) in Berlin on Tuesday.

© Christof Stache / AFP

Update from October 12, 2:08 p.m .:

"Explorations are something different from coalition negotiations," admits Klingbeil. However, the decision was made consciously to talk about the points with the greatest differences in content in the current discussions. Coalition negotiations should bring "more detail," adds Kellner. Wissing emphasizes that every single political question has its meaning. “What we do first is to clarify the big questions that we know are hurdles,” he says.

Update from October 12, 2:03 p.m .:

They “talked about all topics that are important for the exploratory result,” explains Kellner. Wissing does not want to comment on an ambiguous quote from his party leader Christian Lindner - he had spoken of a "difficult" mood (

). Perhaps Lindner meant the "difficult task" of binding three parties into a coalition, Wissing speculates.

"It makes no sense that we each interpret the things that we have discussed together for ourselves," Wissing also fends off the question of concrete content.

The negotiations are about a common perspective, not three different ones.

“This process is difficult, but it can only work if you work step by step,” he adds.

So far, a “very clever, structured approach” has been followed.

The aim is to create the first clarity by Friday.

Traffic light explorations: "Hour of Truth" - FDP General Wissing explains how to proceed with the SPD and the Greens

Update from October 12, 1:58 p.m.:

The party general secretaries and managing directors are now appearing in front of the press with some delay.

The number of things in common has increased, "but there are still issues to be clarified," says Green Michael Kellner.

SPD General Lars Klingbeil speaks of "a lot of distance" before the traffic light probes.

But he is convinced that the hurdles can be overcome.

The general secretaries are now on the train for two days to prepare the next large meeting on Friday.

They spoke “politely and factually”, explains FDP General Secretary Volker Wissing.

Now the moment of truth is near - they want to formulate a basis for decision-making by Friday.

These should then be submitted to the party committees, including an assessment of whether coalition negotiations should be started.

Update from October 12th, 1:35 p.m.:

A statement from the traffic light explorer is approaching - a podium has already been prepared in Berlin.

The first negotiators have already left the meeting.

Traffic light stress?

Lindner comes without Habeck and Baerbock - and describes the "mood" in one word

Update from October 12, 11:05 a.m

.: FDP boss Christian Lindner apparently appeared late for the exploratory date.

Lindner was eight minutes late, reports

.

The day before he demonstratively appeared together with General Secretary Volker Wissing and the Greens Robert Habeck and Annalena Baerbock.

The party chairman of the Free Democrats was taciturn to the journalists present.

When asked what the mood was like, Lindner simply said: "difficult."

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Christian Lindner appears for the explorations with the Greens and the SPD.

© Christof Stache / AFP

Update from October 12, 9:13 a.m.:

The traffic light soundings are now running again.

Four hours of talks are scheduled for this Tuesday - afterwards, for the first time in a few days, the public will also be informed.

Traffic light explorations: SPD, Greens and FDP continue to negotiate - then Scholz flies to Washington

Update from October 12th, 6:13 am:

The "in-depth" exploratory talks between the SPD, Greens and FDP have been going on in Berlin since this week. Symbolically, FDP boss Lindner, Secretary General Wissing and the Green bosses Baerbock and Habeck arrived together on Monday, October 11th, to begin negotiations. Also on Tuesday, all signs are up: probing. The traffic light parties will come together from 9 a.m., a total of four hours have been earmarked for the talks.

Then there is a break because the SPD chancellor candidate Olaf Scholz has to travel to Washington for a meeting of finance ministers.

After Scholz's return, the probing should continue on Friday.

When a decision would be made to start formal coalition negotiations was initially still open, as was when the parties involved would like to comment on the current status of the talks.

Traffic light explorations: Spicy plans for the Chancellor's election - because of Merkel

First report from October 11, 2021:

Berlin - With a no to tax increases and a move away from the debt brake, the FDP started the phase of in-depth explorations on Monday. The talks between the SPD, FDP and the Greens could, if successful, lead to the first traffic light coalition in the federal government. Taxation and finance is one of the most complicated issues for discussions between the three parties.

A traffic light noise had already emerged on Monday.

Before the meeting, the FDP had made its “red lines” - tax policy and debt limits - clear.

Nothing leaked out of the conversations themselves, however.

Six representatives from each of the three parties meet on Monday and Tuesday in small groups for in-depth discussions.

Unlike on Monday, the talks on Tuesday do not last longer than ten hours.

The reason is Olaf Scholz (SPD): The chancellor candidate will travel to Washington on Tuesday afternoon as acting finance minister - even after the election - to a meeting of finance ministers.

The top talks will continue on the Friday after his return.

Timetable for exploratory talks: decision on starting coalition negotiations on Friday?

According to the current status (Monday evening), there should already be an interim conclusion on Friday - a decision may then already be made about the start of coalition negotiations.

For Tuesday noon - also unlike on Monday - it is also planned that the participants will express themselves publicly after the sessions.

Put the programs on top of each other and see what can be brought together well, said Thomas Kutschaty, the SPD state chief in North Rhine-Westphalia, at Tagesschau24.

"In many areas I can imagine that we can actually achieve a socio-political awakening."

Exploratory talks and then coalition negotiations: Will Chancellor not be elected until December because of Merkel?

Meanwhile

,

claims to have learned

from participants

that another date has already been set: December 16.

Should the exploratory talks lead to equally successful coalition talks and Olaf Scholz (SPD) be elected as the new Chancellor, then only from mid-December.

On December 16, Angela Merkel (CDU) would be in office for as long as her predecessor Helmut Kohl (CDU).

Apparently the participants want to treat the outgoing Chancellor to this record: If the new Chancellor had been elected after December 16, Merkel would have been in the Chancellery the longest.

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List of rubric lists: © Christof Stache / AFP