German liberals and Social Democrats hold "constructive" coalition talks

Germany's liberal Free Democratic Party (FDP) leader Christian Lindner and Greens party co-leaders Robert Habeck and Annalena Baerbock deliver a statement to the media on exploratory talks for a possible new government coalition in Berlin, Germany, October 1, 2021. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse

BERLIN (Reuters) -Germany's Free Democrats (FDP), potential kingmakers in negotiations to form a new coalition government, said exploratory talks with election winners the Social Democrats on Sunday were constructive but they faced hurdles to an alliance.

A close result in last Sunday's election, when no party won an overall majority, has kicked off a period of coalition talks that could last weeks or months, with the FDP and Greens courted by larger parties looking to secure a parliamentary majority.