CDU, CSU, Greens and FDP coalition talks seen only after mid-Oct state election

Four-way exploratory talks ahead of negotiations for a government coalition of CDU, CSU, FDP and Greens (known as a 'Jamaica' coalition, due to party colours) are likely to start only after the state parliamentary election in Lower Saxony on 15 October, reports Tagesschau.de, citing CDU sources. The conservative parties CDU and CSU will start two-way talks on 8 October, writes the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. Chief of the German chancellery Peter Altmaier would like to see a government formed by Christmas, but “the content is what counts, not the date,” he said in an interview with Focus Magazine.

For background, read the CLEW factsheets The long road to a new government coalition in Germany and Climate & energy stumbling blocks for Jamaica-coalition talks.