German Greens vote to enter government coalition talks

FILE PHOTO: German's Social Democratic Party (SPD) top candidate for Chancellor Olaf Scholz arrives to a meeting for exploratory talks for a possible new government coalition, in Berlin, Germany, October 12, 2021. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany's Green party on Sunday followed its prospective partner, the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD), in clearing the way for official three-way negotiations with the business-friendly Free Democrats (FDP) to form the next government.

Delegates at a Green party conference in Berlin voted in favour of starting negotiations in earnest following initial explorative meetings, which could see the SPD's Olaf Scholz succeed Angela Merkel as chancellor.