Steinmeier: Germany should not worry about lack of government

Surprises should not scare us. That is also true of government formation, which is taking longer than usual”, he stressed during the traditional Christmas talk.

I assure you that the state is managing this reform of the rules our Constitution has envisioned for this case, even though such rules have never been used over the last decades”, he added.

Since the September legislative elections, which failed to create a clear political margin in the Chamber of Deputies, the country has been trying to get out of political difficulties.

Because of the failure in November of the first negotiations between conservatives, liberals and ecologists, Steinmeier, who usually plays a protocol role, could have activated a procedure leading to a distribution of Parliament.

But this diplomat, even a member of the SP and who has served for many years as foreign affairs minister, seeks to avoid early elections.

He has also urged the Social Democrats to return to the negotiating table. /