FRANKFURT (Reuters) – Germany’s Social Democrats (SPD) narrowly won Sunday’s national election, with the most likely outcome being a three-way alliance led by either the SPD or Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives.

Although it may take many months to reach a new alliance, the Greens (FDP) and other liberal Free Democrats will be included.

Following are reactions from some of Germany’s largest companies:

SIEMENS ENERGY CEO CHRISTIAN BRUCH:

“What we need now least of all is party-political calculation. It is essential to create a government that can act quickly and combines all the competencies. After the election campaign has ended, parties need to show that they care about energy transition in coalition negotiations. More honesty is needed in this debate. The energy transition will be difficult and may result in job losses.

E.ON CEO LEONHARD BIRNBAUM:

“The upcoming coalition negotiations must focus on a modern climate and economic policy. We in Germany have set ourselves an ambitious goal to achieve climate neutrality by 2045. However, this can trigger a massive economic stimulus program through the energy turnaround. A new German government will also be evaluated on whether the country’s energy supply is both secure and affordable. This requires more innovation and investments in the future.

RWE CEO MARKUS KREBBER:

“Germany needs stability and a clear course. There is a lot of change in the next ten years. To lay the foundations for a climate neutral industry and modernize our infrastructure, we need to move quickly. We also require digitalisation to be accelerated. A united, strong government is needed to act now in order for this goal to be achieved.

HEAD OF BDEW UTILITY COMPANY ASSOCIATION, KERSTIN ANDEAE:

“A new government must clear the path for a speedy expansion of renewable energy and the expansion and repurposing of energy grids…Any incoming coalition must pursue the scaling up of a hydrogen economy.”