Overview
- Negotiators for the Greens and CDU reconvened Tuesday in Stuttgart at the House of the Catholic Church to test whether they can renew their joint state government.
- CDU leader Manuel Hagel said they target a finish by mid-May with a minister-president vote on May 13, while Green negotiator Cem Özdemir reported first progress and signaled a quick shift into formal coalition talks.
- The agenda centered on the economy and the state budget, with LBBW chief Rainer Neske briefing on the outlook and Finance Minister Danyal Bayaz scheduled to outline the fiscal situation later in the evening.
- CDU envoys have pushed for seven ministries and the State Parliament presidency for their party, demands Greens deem unacceptable, as the CDU’s Stuttgart branch warned the party should walk away without major policy shifts.
- The March 8 election left both parties on 56 seats and few other paths to a stable majority, as national polling from ARD’s DeutschlandTrend shows the SPD at 12 percent and only 15 percent of voters satisfied with the federal government.