One day after winning the state elections in North Rhine-Westphalia, the CDU state executive gave the green light for exploratory talks with the SPD, Greens and FDP. “The invitations will go out today,” said CDU state party leader and Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst (CDU) on Monday evening after the meeting in Neuss.

He did not comment on the order of the talks. He will come together with everyone who responded to the invitation and discuss the further procedure. The most important issues are the reconciliation of climate protection and industrial jobs, social security, the best education, internal security and modern mobility, the CDU state leader affirmed.

FDP country leader Joachim Stamp had previously said that he did not expect coalition talks with the Liberals. “There is definitely black and green, that’s completely clear,” he said before a parliamentary group meeting in the Düsseldorf state parliament. Wüst said he would of course also invite the FDP. “We have governed well and trustingly for five years,” he emphasized.

Wüst was celebrated with long applause at the beginning of the state board meeting. According to the preliminary official result, the CDU was the strongest force on Sunday with 35.7 percent of the second votes.