German parties remain confident of debt deal despite Green reluctance
Despite hefty criticism from the Greens, Germany's conservative CDU/CSU and centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) are still counting on striking a deal to pass a massive defence and infrastructure spending package.
Carsten Linnemann, the secretary general of the centre-right Christian Democrats (CDU), said he expects negotiations over the deal to move forward with the Greens and a compromise to be found.
The CDU/CSU and SPD struck a deal to relax Germany's strict balanced budget rules in order to spend as much as €1 trillion ($1.1 trillion) on defence and infrastructure in the next decade.
But the votes of Green lawmakers will be essential to pass the deal, and the Greens have criticized a lack of climate spending and other details in the package.
Linnemann on Monday described ideas put forward by the Greens as "constructive proposals."
SPD leader Lars Klingbeil likewise said he expects to find a compromise with the Greens despite their initial rejection of the deal.
"I am not giving up confidence that this can succeed," said Klingbeil.
Klingbeil said he would seek talks with top Green Party politicians on Monday evening along with conservative leader Friedrich Merz.
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