German SPD says talks with kingmakers will not start this week

Saskia Esken, co-leader of Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD), arrives to attend an SPD parliamentary group meeting in the Bundestag after the general elections, in Berlin, Germany, September 29, 2021. REUTERS/Michele Tantussi

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany's Social Democrats (SPD), who narrowly won Sunday's national election, will not start talks with the Greens and the Free Democrats (FDP) about forming a three-way government until next week, a senior SPD politician said on Wednesday.

The Greens and the liberal FDP, who are far apart on many issues, held preliminary talks overnight to find some common ground for a possible coalition government with either the SPD or the conservatives.