Coalition negotiations in Germany are nearing the finish line amid US customs pressure - DPA
Kyiv • UNN
Negotiations on the formation of a coalition between the CDU/CSU and the SPD have reached the final stage due to global uncertainty caused by the US customs policy. The German economy may suffer from increased import duties.
Negotiations on the formation of the next ruling coalition in Germany have entered the "final stage" due to global uncertainty caused by the radical customs policy of the United States. The aggravation of the situation on world markets has given politicians an additional impetus to reach an agreement. This was reported by DPA, writes UNN.
Details
A senior lawmaker said Tuesday that talks between the conservative bloc, consisting of Friedrich Merz's Christian Democrats (CDU) and Bavaria's sole Christian Social Union (CSU), and the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) are nearing completion after elections in February.
Anke Rehlinger of the SPD, who is the prime minister of the western state of Saarland, told reporters that "the last meters are the most exhausting," but she is confident that "the effort is worth it."
"They should pass quickly and successfully," added CDU politician Jens Spahn in Berlin.
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There is less and less time to form a government before Easter, as required by Friedrich Merz, the likely next chancellor of Germany, so political forces are accelerating the agreement on the terms of a future agreement.
Given that negotiators are close to a deal, Merz even canceled a scheduled appearance at an event with the CDU/CSU youth wing on Tuesday.
The global situation in the markets has also forced the parties to speed up the coalition process. After all, the German economy, which is based on exports, will be severely affected by the increase in US import duties on goods from the EU to 20%.
However, any coalition agreement will still require the approval of the SPD members. And CDU/CSU leader Thorsten Frei said that the agreement should be approved only at a party conference.
Recall
Thorsten Frei stated about the possibility of reaching an agreement with the Social Democrats by Easter. At the same time, the likely coalition partners in the Bundestag still have many disagreements.
