Paul Carrel, Kirsti Knolle

BERLIN, (Reuters) – The Social Democrats of the Centre-left (SPD), who are now closer to leading Germany’s next government in Germany signed up Wednesday Greens (FDP) and Free Democrats (FDP), following an unsuccessful national election.

Olaf Scholz (the SPD candidate for chancellor), said that talks will begin Thursday after what he described as very constructive preliminary negotiations. According to Scholz, the voters had mandated all three parties to form a government. They now have to fulfill that mandate.

After the sept. 26 federal vote, which saw no party win an overall majority but where SPD narrowly placed outgoing Chancellor Angela Angela Angela Merkel’s conservatives in second, a new round of horse trading began.

Germany is different from other European countries where the monarch invites one party leader in order to create a government. In Germany, it’s up to the parties to make the decision.

The SPD and conservatives both sought out the smaller parties, which came in third and fourth place respectively, to help them secure power in an ongoing coalition building process.

The future of Germany after 16 years under Merkel’s leadership, Germany’s desire to create Europe’s biggest economy in the digital age, as well as its willingness and ability to engage on global issues.

Christian Lindner, FDP leader, said that his party has more policy overlaps with conservatives than the Greens and shared “a mutual conviction” that the country needs renewal.

He said that the FDP has agreed to talk with SPD in order to help Germany move forwards.

Armin Lasset, leader of the conservative bloc as well as its candidate for chancellor – who is fighting to his political life said his party respected this decision and was “ready for negotiations.”

Markus Soeder is the leader of Bavarian’s Christian Social Union (CSU), a sister party to Laschet’s Christian Democrats (CDU), and he said that there “will very likely not be any government” in their conservative alliance.

DIFFERENCES IN BRIDGE

FDP and the Greens both acknowledged that they were open to negotiations with conservatives, but stated there would not be parallel talks.

An SDP/Green/FDP alliance – known as a “traffic light” coalition on account of the parties’ colours – already governs in the western state of Rhineland-Palatinate, but at federal level such a formation would be a first in Germany.

Despite being on opposite sides of the political spectrum, the FDP and Greens have tried to reach common ground through bilateral talks, before scoping out larger parties.

Robert Habeck, Greens leader and co-chairman of the group that proposed the three-way negotiations said that his party had still significant differences with the FDP as well as the SPD. Much had yet to be discussed.

Lindner, FDP spokesperson said that differences remain.

He said, “But we’ve learned that understanding can lead to a pro-progress center and we can then put our imaginations into action.”

Merkel, who has served in the office of President since 2005, will be retiring once a new government is established.