‘Situation unseen in decades’ – German president on failed coalition talks
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier says Germany is facing a situation unseen in decades after coalition talks failed. He warned of “great concern” across Europe if the “strongest country” in the EU can’t form a government.
“We are facing a situation which [we] did not face in the Federal Republic of Germany for almost 70 years,” Steinmeier said.
Steinmeier said that he will be holding talks with the leaders of all parties involved in the discussions, along with German institutions. He also stressed that all parties have a responsibility to try to form a government in the near future.
“All political parties elected to the German parliament have an obligation to the common interest to serve our country,” Steinmeier said. “I expect from all a readiness to talk to make agreeing a government possible in the near future.”
The Free Democratic Party (FDP) walked out of marathon talks shortly before midnight on Sunday, with its leader, Christian Lindner, saying there was “no common basis of trust” between the FDP, German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s center-right CDU party, and the Greens. He said it was “better not to govern than to govern badly.”
The walkout effectively led to the breakdown of the coalition talks and a potential attempt to form a majority government.
Explaining the motives behind its walkout, the FDP pointed to what it sees as a lack of compromise from other parties on key issues including tax cuts, curbing red tape and education policy, according to the party’s negotiator, Joachim Stamp.
The current major partner of Merkel’s CDU, the Social Democratic Party (SPD), had earlier signaled it would not engage in another grand coalition. On Monday, SPD leader Martin Schuls reiterated the decison.
full story at https://www.rt.com/news/410403-german-president-failed-coalition-talks/