By Sabine Siebold
POTSDAM, Germany, Sept 20 (Reuters) - Germany's Free Democrats rejected overtures from the Social Democrats on Sunday and indicated they would stay in opposition if they were unable to form a centre-right coalition with Chancellor Angela Merkel.
A week before a federal election, the Free Democrats (FDP) made clear that they would not be part of a three-way coalition with the Social Democrats (SPD) and Greens -- seemingly the only combination that could deny Merkel a second term in office.
This weekend, leaders of the centre-left SPD softened their tone towards the pro-business FDP, hoping to leave the door open to a so-called 'traffic light' coalition -- named after the parties' colours -- with the Greens after the Sept. 27 vote.
But the FDP, which is trying to end a record 11-year run in the opposition, agreed at a party congress in Potsdam to reject that option after weeks of pressure from Merkel's conservatives.
'Because the manifestos of the SPD and the Greens will raise the burden on the taxpayer, we Free Democrats are not available to help the SPD and Greens get a majority,' said the statement agreed by FDP head Guido Westerwelle and other party leaders.
Most polls suggest Merkel's conservatives and the FDP could secure a narrow parliamentary majority in the election and form the centre-right coalition that eluded them four years ago, although the race has been tightening.
Such a government would be likely to seek tax cuts, reduce the role of the state in Europe's largest economy and extend the life of Germany's nuclear power stations, which are set to be phased out over the next decade.
If Merkel fails to win sufficient votes to rule with the FDP, a number of other combinations are possible, although the most likely result is a replay of the awkward 'grand coalition' with traditional rivals the SPD that she has headed since 2005.
SPD WOOS FDP
In a weekend interview, SPD chairman Franz Muentefering told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung newspaper his party had significant overlaps with the FDP on education, civil rights, foreign policy and support for small businesses.
Merkel's SPD challenger Frank-Walter Steinmeier has also said a coalition with the FDP and Greens could be an option.
But Westerwelle, speaking in Potsdam, said 'socialists and communists' must not be allowed to rule Germany -- a clear reference to the SPD and the far-left 'Linke', or Left party.
The FDP has been an influential player on the German political stage since World War Two, spending longer in government than any other party.
Hans Vorlaender, a political scientist at the University of Dresden, said that although the FDP might be more tempted to consider a coalition with the SPD than they were in 2005, the party was likely to stay in opposition if necessary.
'The FDP wouldn't look good in coalition with the SPD and Greens, it would have to make too many compromises,' he said. 'Westerwelle has become one of those politicians who seeks to avoid a loss of credibility like the devil does holy water.'
Despite advocating free markets and limited government for decades, the FDP has been the biggest political winner of a financial crisis that many blame on lax regulation, stealing conservative voters angry at Merkel's compromises with the SPD.
'It has shown you can be a winner in opposition too: the party has never been stronger,' said Vorlaender.
(Writing by Dave Graham; Editing by Jon Boyle) Keywords: GERMANY ELECTION/ (dave.graham@reuters.com; Reuters Messaging: dave.graham.reuters.com@reuters.net; 49 30 2888 5217) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
POTSDAM, Germany, Sept 20 (Reuters) - Germany's Free Democrats rejected overtures from the Social Democrats on Sunday and indicated they would stay in opposition if they were unable to form a centre-right coalition with Chancellor Angela Merkel.
A week before a federal election, the Free Democrats (FDP) made clear that they would not be part of a three-way coalition with the Social Democrats (SPD) and Greens -- seemingly the only combination that could deny Merkel a second term in office.
This weekend, leaders of the centre-left SPD softened their tone towards the pro-business FDP, hoping to leave the door open to a so-called 'traffic light' coalition -- named after the parties' colours -- with the Greens after the Sept. 27 vote.
But the FDP, which is trying to end a record 11-year run in the opposition, agreed at a party congress in Potsdam to reject that option after weeks of pressure from Merkel's conservatives.
'Because the manifestos of the SPD and the Greens will raise the burden on the taxpayer, we Free Democrats are not available to help the SPD and Greens get a majority,' said the statement agreed by FDP head Guido Westerwelle and other party leaders.
Most polls suggest Merkel's conservatives and the FDP could secure a narrow parliamentary majority in the election and form the centre-right coalition that eluded them four years ago, although the race has been tightening.
Such a government would be likely to seek tax cuts, reduce the role of the state in Europe's largest economy and extend the life of Germany's nuclear power stations, which are set to be phased out over the next decade.
If Merkel fails to win sufficient votes to rule with the FDP, a number of other combinations are possible, although the most likely result is a replay of the awkward 'grand coalition' with traditional rivals the SPD that she has headed since 2005.
SPD WOOS FDP
In a weekend interview, SPD chairman Franz Muentefering told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung newspaper his party had significant overlaps with the FDP on education, civil rights, foreign policy and support for small businesses.
Merkel's SPD challenger Frank-Walter Steinmeier has also said a coalition with the FDP and Greens could be an option.
But Westerwelle, speaking in Potsdam, said 'socialists and communists' must not be allowed to rule Germany -- a clear reference to the SPD and the far-left 'Linke', or Left party.
The FDP has been an influential player on the German political stage since World War Two, spending longer in government than any other party.
Hans Vorlaender, a political scientist at the University of Dresden, said that although the FDP might be more tempted to consider a coalition with the SPD than they were in 2005, the party was likely to stay in opposition if necessary.
'The FDP wouldn't look good in coalition with the SPD and Greens, it would have to make too many compromises,' he said. 'Westerwelle has become one of those politicians who seeks to avoid a loss of credibility like the devil does holy water.'
Despite advocating free markets and limited government for decades, the FDP has been the biggest political winner of a financial crisis that many blame on lax regulation, stealing conservative voters angry at Merkel's compromises with the SPD.
'It has shown you can be a winner in opposition too: the party has never been stronger,' said Vorlaender.
(Writing by Dave Graham; Editing by Jon Boyle) Keywords: GERMANY ELECTION/ (dave.graham@reuters.com; Reuters Messaging: dave.graham.reuters.com@reuters.net; 49 30 2888 5217) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
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