Enlarge image
Christian Lindner, Olaf Scholz, Annalena Baerbock and Robert Habeck (from left)
Photo: Odd Andersen / AFP
The parties to the planned traffic light government have presented their joint coalition agreement.
The SPD, the Greens and the FDP want to form a "coalition on an equal footing" in the words of the future Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD).
"We are united by the will to make the country better," said Scholz.
"We want to dare to make more progress," he emphasized: The goal of the traffic light parties is not the lowest common denominator, but a "policy of great effect."
The paper contains central projects such as an initiative for the construction of 400,000 apartments, an increase in the minimum wage to twelve euros and the legalization of cannabis (read more here).
The discussions were "constructive and always solution-oriented," said Scholz.
"I liked that a lot." Something had grown together.
Scholz remembered the first traffic light in Germany, which was set up in 1924 at Potsdamer Platz in Berlin.
Back then, too, people asked themselves whether this would work.
"Today it is impossible to imagine the traffic light without it," said Scholz.
"My aspiration as Federal Chancellor is that this traffic light alliance will play a similar groundbreaking role for Germany."
Habeck: "We are on a 1.5 degree path"
Green co-boss Robert Habeck was also satisfied.
"We're on a 1.5 degree path," he said.
The traffic light parties wanted to write a new story that would show "the compatibility of prosperity and climate protection."
Instead of always setting new climate protection goals, the decision was made to agree on specific measures.
Germany will remain "the advocate of solid finances," announced FDP leader Christian Lindner.
The aim of the traffic light is also to unleash private initiative, private know-how and private capital.
The state must also be digitized, education must be improved, social advancement must be facilitated and socio-political liberalization must succeed.
The coalition negotiations began on October 21, after the three traffic light parties had previously laid the foundation stone for them in explorations.
They were led in a main round of negotiations, ultimately made up of seven high-ranking representatives from each party and in 22 working groups.
In these, the politicians of the parties negotiated the details of the coalition agreement.
In the case of the SPD and FDP, the coalition agreement must be approved by party congresses and in the case of the Greens in a member survey.
The previous Finance Minister Olaf Scholz (SPD) is to be elected Chancellor in the Bundestag during St. Nicholas Week.
After 16 years, the era of Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU), who did not run again in the federal elections on September 26th, ends.
as / dpa / Reuters / AFP