Germany's SPD spells out coalition conditions but no decision until party conference

BERLIN, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Although Germany's Social Democrats (SPD) on Friday denied media reports that it has agreed to enter into formal coalition talks with Merkel's CDU/CSU, the party has begun formulating conditions which must be met for their party to help form another "grand coalition" again.

SPD leader Martin Schulz told Spiegel magazine that he would insist on a far-reaching reform of the European Union (EU) and German social policy.

"A positive answer to (the reform proposals of French President) Emmanuel Macron will be a core element of any negotiation with the SPD," the SPD leader said.

Amongst others, Schulz is calling for a centralization of European fiscal policy as well as the related appointment of an EU Finance Minister.

On Friday morning, the leaders of the SPD, CDU and CSU briefed their respective parties on the results of Thursday's emergency talks with the president.

SPD representatives subsequently told press that Schulz informed German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Chancellor Angela Merkel and CSU leader Horst Seehofer on Thursday that no coalition talks could take place prior to the upcoming SPD party conference next week.

While SPD leadership was willing to enter non-binding, preliminary negotiations concerning the formation of a new German government, the party first wanted to secure approval for this step from its membership base.

According to the president's office, discussions on Thursday over how to break the current political impasse in Germany were constructive. Steinmeier and Merkel are both keen to prevent the need for re-elections, leaving a re-launch of the acting "grand coalition" between the CDU/CSU and SPD as the only plausible alternative.

However, SPD party leadership announced that it would give a formal recommendation on how to proceed to its members by Monday.

"We are under no time pressure," Schulz said, adding that there was "wide support" within the SPD leadership not to rule any course of action out.

Schulz had originally vowed to return to the opposition benches with his party following their poor performance in September's federal elections and only recently softened his position when "Jamaica" coalition talks between the CDU, CSU, Free Democratic Party (FDP) and Greens (Gruene) collapsed. Enditem