Three-way coalition talks next week: Merkel
Merkel
Chancellor Angela Merkel said, her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and their Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), would hold?talks?with the FDP and Greens separately?next?Wednesday
Chancellor AngelaMerkelsaid her conservative bloc wouldbeginexploratory talksnextweekon forming a three-wayGermancoalitiongovernment with the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) and the environmentalist Greens.
Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and their Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), would holdtalkswith the FDP and Greens separatelynextWednesday, she said.
"Then on Friday, October 20th we will have the first round of exploratorytalkswith all partners," Merkeltold a joint news conference with CSU leader Horst Seehofer on Monday.
Merkel's CDU appeared to make a concession to the CSU on Sunday by agreeing to put a number on how many peopleGermany would accept per year on humanitarian grounds.Merkel said she was pleased with the compromise, which was "a very, very good basis to go into exploratorytalks".