MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Christian Lindner, the leader of Germany's Free Democratic Party (FDP), has rejected the possibility of entering a so-called Jamaica coalition with the Christian Democratic Union and Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) alliance and the Greens, even in the event of a new election.
"Trustworthy cooperation with the Green Party on the federal level is not possible now… The Greens will not transform into another party [with different positions]… I do not make predictions about a new election. We are not afraid of them," Lindner told the Koelner Stadt-Anzeiger newspaper.
According to Lindner, he doesn't support a minority government because even a coalition with the CDU/CSU and the FDP may not be stable.
'Unprecedented' Situation in Germany
The statement comes after Lindner announced that his party had quit the coalition talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel's CDU/CSU and the Greens, making the prospects for a Jamaica coalition impossible. Disagreements over such issues as migration and climate change, in particular between the FDP and the Greens, reportedly prevented the parties from reaching a deal. In contrast to the FDP, the Green party leadership has said it is willing to take part in more negotiations.
Germany's 'Grand Coalition' Woes Continue: Martin Schulz Urged to Start Talks
Germany held a parliamentary election on September 24 with Merkel's CDU/CSU alliance winning the election with 33 percent of votes and securing 246 seats in the parliament, but failing to secure an absolute majority. The FDP came fourth with 10.7 percent of votes and 80 seats, while the Greens came sixth, gaining 8.9 percent of votes and 67 seats.
The Jamaica format coalition would have had 393 mandates in total, and therefore able to establish a majority in the 709-seat parliament. The remaining options for CDU/CSU include a minority government with the Greens or a new election, a situation described by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier as "unprecedented in 70 years".
