German parties hold 'speed dating' post-election talks
ABC News
Germany’s four biggest parties have held a series of bilateral meetings to further sound out each others’ positions before deciding on further steps in forming a government
BERLIN -- Germany's four biggest parties held a series of bilateral meetings Sunday to further sound out each others' positions before deciding on further steps in forming a government.
The center-left Social Democrats, who finished on top in Germany's national election last month, first met with the fourth-place pro-business Free Democrats before holding talks with the Greens, who came in third.
The latter two had already kicked off the traditional negotiating dance Wednesday, though it is unusual for smaller parties to make the first move.
Sunday's sessions in Berlin — described by some observers as akin to speed dating — were rounded off by a meeting between the Free Democrats and outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel's center-right Union bloc, which suffered a narrow defeat Sept. 26.
