Social Democrats and Greens agreed yesterday to hold special party conferences in October to approve any coalition deal that may emerge from talks starting on Friday.
The Greens promised to make job creation their priority during the negotiations but identified the future of nuclear power and the reform of Germany's nationality laws as key issues for the party.
The Chancellor-elect, Mr Gerhard Schroder, travels to Paris today at the invitation of the French President, Mr Jacques Chirac. Mr Schroder is keen to reassure the French government that the Franco-German axis remains the core of Germany's foreign policy.
In an article published yesterday in Le Figaro and the Frank- furter Allgemeine Zeitung, Mr Chirac wrote that Paris and Bonn have a historical mission to complete the enlargement of the EU. "The time has come to renew the Franco-German relationship. We have changed. In this new and uncertain world, the need for Europe is increasing every day, and this provides a fresh opportunity for the Franco-German couple, an extra reason for Germany and France to act together," he wrote.
Mr Schroder's choice of Paris as the destination for his first external visit is aimed at offsetting French disquiet at his enthusiasm for forging equally strong links with London. Although the Chancellor-elect, who grew up in Germany's formerly British-occupied zone, is personally drawn more to London than Paris, there is little chance that the Franco-German relationship will be downgraded.
Mr Schroder indicated yesterday that he may move to Berlin as early as April next year, six months ahead of schedule. SPD spokesman, Mr Michael Donnemeyer, told a Berlin newspaper that Mr Schroder wanted to move to the new capital as soon as the renovation of the Reichstag is complete.
"He's looking forward to Berlin and wants to do as much as possible there. He wants to move there as quickly as possible in order to send a signal. Bonn is a city identified with the old West Germany, the old Kohl government, and the old way of doing things. He wants a new start for his new government in the new German capital," he said.
In the meantime, Mr Schroder will live in the Chancellor's villa in Bonn. But his wife, Doris, who has a seven-year-old daughter by a previous relationship, will be staying in Hanover until the family is ready to move to Berlin.
Meanwhile, Mr Edmund Stoiber, of the Christian Social Union, was re-elected as Bavarian premier by the regional assembly, just over two weeks after his resounding victory in the southern German state. His confirmation cements his position as the strong man of the German right. Reuters adds from Moscow: President Yeltsin thanked Dr Kohl yesterday for his "great personal contribution to strengthening the partnership between Russia and Germany", a Kremlin spokesman said.
He described Mr Yeltsin's telephone call to the defeated German leader as "warm and genuine". Dr Kohl assured Mr Yeltsin that Mr Schrder would continue to develop co-operation with Moscow.
