German parties give green light to three-way coalition talks

Germany's Free Democratic Party (FDP) leader Christian Lindner gestures as he gives a statement after a board meeting that approved coalition talks with the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the Greens according to a party source, in Berlin, Germany, October 18, 2021. REUTERS/Annegret Hils

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany's business-friendly Free Democrats (FDP) joined the Social Democrats (SPD) and Greens on Monday in approving a decision by party leaders to proceed with three-way coalition talks to form what they called "a government of the middle".

The FDP leadership and members of parliament voted in favour of the start to negotiations after initial exploratory talks that saw the three parties agree a roadmap. The Greens and centre-left SPD had already given their approval.