SPD, Greens Agree on State Coalition

After difficult negotiations, members of the SPD and Green parties in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein have worked out their coalition agreement. They also plan to wrap up a "tolerance agreement" with the small party representing the state's Danish minority, the SSW. Under the coalition contract, the SPD and Greens have agreed to cooperate on reforming state administrative structures, and to introduce a uniform high school next to the existing system of three different levels of high schools. Heide Simonis (SPD) is expected to be reconfirmed as state premier next Thursday.