BERLIN - Disputes about climate and immigration policy dominated German media ahead of resumed talks among Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives, the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) and the environmental Greens about forming a coalition government.
Officials from all three political groups traded barbs and insults in a series of media interviews, dimming hopes that next week’s talks could result in progress for a so-called Jamaica coalition - a name chosen because the parties’ black, yellow and green colors mirror those of the Jamaican flag.
Simone Peter, co-leader of the Greens, told Reuters the FDP must agree to honor existing carbon dioxide reduction promises before her party would continue coalition talks. She said her party viewed conservative’s insistence on a migrant cap as a “no go”.
FDP Leader Christian Lindner shot back in an interview with the Bild am Sonntag newspaper: “If the Greens don’t budge in future talks, Jamaica will remain a castle in the air.” Merkel, whose conservative alliance suffered its worst result in September elections since 1949, is trying to forge a tricky three-way coalition that is untested at a national level. The exploratory talks are to continue Monday after the three sides failed to reach agreement on immigration and climate issues during an 11-hour session on Thursday. (Reuters)