Who will be the CDU's coalition partner in Hesse?
How does the CDU want to govern in Hesse in the future - with the Greens or with the SPD? Almost five weeks after the state elections, the party of Minister President Boris Rhein could announce the eagerly awaited decision on its desired coalition partner this Friday, according to information from the German Press Agency. Further detailed exploratory talks between the CDU, the Greens and the SPD were scheduled to take place behind closed doors this week.
The Berlin federal-state summit on Monday and early Tuesday morning, with Hesse chairing the Conference of Minister Presidents, had interrupted the coalition talks in Wiesbaden. Prior to this, Hesse's CDU leader and Minister President Boris Rhein had spoken of "atmospherically positive and constructive" exploratory talks in a strictly confidential setting.
As the clear winner of the election, the CDU in Hesse can choose whether to forge a coalition government with the Greens or with the SPD, which has so far been in opposition. The FDP, which only just made it back into the Wiesbaden state parliament, would not be mathematically necessary for this. The CDU is not sounding out the significantly strengthened, right-wing populist AfD.
The state parliament will be constituted in January
According to dpa information, there are votes within the CDU for both a continuation of the black-green coalition and a new black-red coalition. The CDU and Greens have governed together quite quietly for around a decade, creating a basis of trust. With the SPD, on the other hand, there could be more overlap in some areas.
According to the Greens, a new coalition agreement with the CDU would have to be decided in a ballot of their almost 10,000 members in the state. According to its own information, the SPD has reserved December 16 for a party conference in the event of an agreement with the CDU, at which around 400 delegates could decide on a coalition agreement. The new 21st Hessian state parliament will be constituted on January 18, 2024, before which another plenary week of the current parliament is planned in December.
The CDU, led by Minister President Boris Rhein, is considering forming a coalition government with either the Greens or the SPD in Hesse. Boris Rhein mentioned that the exploratory talks with both parties have been "atmospherically positive and constructive." The CDU, as the clear election winner, has the option to govern with the Greens, whom they've cooperated with quietly for a decade, or with the SPD, who could offer more overlap in certain areas.
Source: www.dpa.com
