German Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) standing by the balcony of the European Parliamentary Association during the Exploratory discussions for "Jamaica" coalition in Berlin, 18 October 2017. The Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU), the Greens and the Free Democratic Party (FDP) begin their exploratory discussions for "Jamaica" coalition. L-R: Thomas Kreuzer, group chairman of the CSU in the Bavarian parliament, Alexander Graf Lambsdorff (FDP), head of FDP Christian Lindner, Peter Altmaier (CDU), head of the Federal Chancellery, head of CSU Horst Seehofer, general secretary of CSU Andreas Scheuer. Photo: Michael Kappeler/dpa