Traffic light coalition: These are the sticking points between the SPD, Greens and FDP

The coalition negotiations between the SPD, the Greens and the FDP begin.

It would be the first traffic light at the federal level.

Which topics cause them particular problems.

Berlin - Almost a month after the federal election in 2021 * and one day after the constituent session of the Bundestag *, the coalition negotiations between the SPD, the Greens and the FDP will officially begin on Wednesday (October 27, 2021). 22 working groups are to negotiate the first traffic light coalition agreement at federal level. During the explorations, the parties set the goal of forming a government before Christmas. But their ideas differ greatly on some topics.

Before the working groups clarified open questions on Wednesday in different places and at different times, however, the SPD *, Greens and FDP presented their traffic light plans on the subject of corona measures.

The parties already presented their first joint results in the exploratory paper in mid-October, when the traffic light explorers announced a “break” and clear plans - for example for minimum wages, pensions, coal phasing out or speed limits on motorways.

Now it's time to get down to business if a coalition agreement is supposed to be in place in December.

Problems for the SPD, the Greens and the FDP in the traffic light coalition: financing issue is a big sticking point

But until then, there are still some sticking points to overcome: The biggest thing in the traffic light coalition negotiations between the SPD, Greens * and FDP is how they want to finance their planned projects, reports the tagesschau.

The reason for this is the concession to the FDP not to increase taxes and to adhere to the debt brake.

According to the German Press Agency, there is the possibility of running into debt again in 2022 under the guise of the Corona * pandemic *, but putting this money aside for investments.

Investments could also be outsourced to public companies, among other things.

They ran outside the budget and should therefore take out loans despite the debt brake.

But the question of financing is not the only problem.

Climate protection is also a conflict issue for a possible traffic light coalition.

For example, an early coal phase-out by 2030 is not firmly announced in the exploratory paper of the SPD around Chancellor candidate Olaf Scholz *, Greens and FDP * - rather it says: "Ideally, this will be successful by 2030".

The exit from coal is, however, one of the core issues of the Greens.

For the Green Youth, too, climate protection was already the basis of the exploratory talks.

The issues of renewable energies and the energy transition in general will therefore hardly be resolved without conflicts.

Possible traffic light coalition: climate protection and foreign policy sticking points for the SPD, Greens and FDP

In addition, there are unanswered questions, for example about the commuter allowance and whether state subsidies and thus also the premium for e-cars will remain, as the tagesschau notes.

Another topic that is currently bothering people more and more is the high prices at petrol stations and for heating, as the editorial network Germany raises.

There are also further questions on the mobility issue in rail expansion.

The Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline is another important environmental concern that is only briefly mentioned in the exploratory paper.

And that brings you to the next sticking point: the question of foreign policy.

Because for Nord Stream 2, the relationship with Russia * is crucial.

In the exploratory paper by the SPD, Greens and FDP, however, there are no references to what the work of the possible traffic light coalition with Russia or China * would look like in the future - a particularly important question, especially with regard to human rights violations.

Some security policy issues also need to be clarified, such as dealing with NATO's goal of spending two percent of gross domestic product on defense.

Possible traffic light coalition: Christian Lindner (FDP) and Robert Habeck (Greens) vie for office

Last but not least, even after the sticking points of a possible traffic light coalition, the question of how certain posts should be filled would remain.

For example, Christian Lindner * from the FDP and Robert Habeck * from the Greens have recently contested the office of finance minister.

According to media reports, the working groups want to have discussed by November 10th.

According to the plan, the main negotiating group of 18 politicians should formulate a coalition agreement by the end of November.

(Jan Trieselmann with DPA)