The top representatives of the CDU, SPD and FDP in Saxony-Anhalt negotiated their draft for a joint coalition agreement until late at night.

After about eleven hours, the steering group consisting of the party leaders, the incumbent Prime Minister Reiner Haseloff (CDU) and other top representatives of the three parties adjourned to Friday.

"We made very good progress in the coalition negotiations on Wednesday," said CDU boss Sven Schulze after the meeting of the German press agency. “However, there are some details that have to be clarified in a small circle between the parties on Thursday before we can negotiate further.

After the first two weeks of the coalition negotiations had passed quite silently, the mood between the parties on Tuesday and Wednesday had clouded over - also because a debate about the future responsibility for the economic department had broken out. Schulze wants to replace the incumbent Minister of Economic Affairs Armin Willingmann (SPD), but the Social Democrats entered negotiations with the demand that Willingmann keep the post. “The mood was very tense at times this week,” said Schulze after the meeting on Wednesday. "Nevertheless, the talks are still very constructive."