Altmaier willrepresent Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrats (CDU), which  togetherwith their Bavarian ally, the Christian Social Union (CSU), won 41.5% in the September federal election.

However, to forma government, Merkel needs the hitherto opposition Social Democrats (SPD), whichgained 25.7%.

Kraft, the premier of North-Rhine-Westphalia, willrepresent the SPD in the energy talks. She is a firm backer of the coalindustry that was traditionally strong in her state but that has been struggling inrecent years.

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