To show Scholz, the SPD candidate for chancellor and not its leader, we have corrected headlines and paragraphs of October 15th story.

By Holger Hansen and Sarah Marsh

BERLIN, (Reuters) –Olaf Scholz was the German centre-left Social Democrats’ (SPD), candidate for the role of chancellor. He announced that he, along with the leaders of two smaller parties, hoped to enter into formal coalition negotiations.

Leaders of the SPD who won first place in the election last month, Greens, and business-friendly Free Democrats said that exploratory discussions were constructive. They also stated they had established a roadmap for formal negotiations.

The weekend will see party committees vote on whether or not to form a traffic light alliance. This is the first such federally recognized organization.

FDP and Greens both have indicated that they are open to discussing the options with conservatives. They have served in the office since 1996. The road map was criticized by conservatives as being contradictory and lackluster.

Polls suggest that the majority of voters support a traffic-light alliance, and senior conservatives give up on being in the next government.

Scholz stated that “a new beginning is possible when the three parties come together,” during a press conference.

RTL TV interviewed him later, saying that he wanted to “do so well that the election is won,” and that tax reductions for low-income earners were essential to his vision.

Christian Lindner (leader of the FDP), said that if parties so divergent could come up with joint solutions and challenges, it would allow us to unify our nation.” He is the outsider in the marriage between two left-leaning parties.

ROADMAP

According to Reuters’ roadmap for the coalition talks, major points were agreed upon by the parties such as NATO’s central role in German security and NATO’s central role in the Transatlantic Partnership.

Merkel stated to reporters in Brussels that she could confirm with absolute certainty that the government would be pro-European. And that is an important message for EU Partners.

Teneo’s Carsten Nickel, a political risk consulting firm, stated that the road map indicated the parties were “less flexible” in reforming the European Union’s fiscal rules. This was in line with the FDP’s fiscal conservatism.

Nickel suggested that they may be open to considering a permanent EU role for its pandemic recovery funds. This is in reference to the SPD which had previously talked of taking steps toward a European fiscal union.

Reuters heard from several economists who were enthusiastic about the roadmap, which promises a waiver on taxes and a commitment for funds to support public and private investment.

Parties also reached an agreement on a 2030 exit from coal-fired electricity stations and use of 2% land for offshore wind power farms. This includes equipping rooftops with solar panels and cutting down on planning and permits.

Annalena Baerbock, Greens Chief of Staff, stated that it must be a combination of reform and progress in order to “make this decade of renewal.”