Things are getting serious between the CDU and the Greens in Kiel: After the conclusion of the soundings, both parties immediately enter into coalition negotiations. The end is already in sight. The new government should be in place on June 22nd. Prime Minister Günther wants to "bring something big together".

The CDU and the Greens in Schleswig-Holstein have started their negotiations on a joint government alliance with a decidedly optimistic attitude. "We have the ambition to describe very specifically in the coalition agreement what we have in front of us in the next five years," said Prime Minister Daniel Günther in Kiel. The CDU politician said they are looking forward to bringing something big together in the coming weeks.

The parties had completed their explorations on Tuesday. After that, a party conference of the Greens and the CDU state executive voted to start negotiations. The Greens were also confident. "I'm going in with a good feeling because we're well prepared," said finance minister and Greens' top candidate Monika Heinold. Your co-lead candidate Aminata Touré emphasized that you are in good spirits and are going into the negotiations "with a totally blatant respect".

A key issues paper prepared during the soundings serves as the basis. The thematic blocks listed include security, the economy, health, mobility, as well as day-care centers and schools. The parties are aiming for more ambitious climate protection goals and a faster expansion of renewable energies. It was said that Schleswig-Holstein should become the first climate-neutral industrial state.

It was initially not clear on which issues the negotiations could become difficult. Internal security, agriculture and transport are among observers as possible sticking points. Günther was covered: It is not yet possible to say where possible difficulties lie. "I think it's too early to speculate now." The 48-year-old had already announced the goal of forming a government within a few weeks after the end of the exploratory talks.

Now there is a roadmap: Both parties send five negotiators each to ten working groups. The delegations also want to meet once a week in large groups. They are aiming for the end of the talks on June 22nd. If the party conferences of the CDU and the Greens approve the coalition agreement, it should be signed on June 28th. A day later, the prime minister would be elected in the Kiel state parliament. In the state elections on May 8, the CDU missed an absolute majority in the state parliament by just one seat. The Greens and FDP could not agree on a continuation of the Jamaica coalition of CDU, Greens and FDP, which has been in government since 2017. Only one of the two partners is needed to form a government. The CDU and the Greens have a two-thirds majority in the state parliament.