The CDU's Status Outside the Party's Options to Form a Coalition

Before the election, there were kind of three feasible three party coalitions. Now we see one that's the social democrats talking with the Greens and the liberals. But because the Christian democrats had this stigma of losing the election, the party didn't feel strong enough or bold enough to try out a novel three party coalition. The grand coalition is still an option lingering in the background if something goes wrong.