German govt parties support including aid for start-ups in coronavirus aid package

• The conservatives and SPD backed a call from the liberal Free Democrats (FDP) to allow applications from start-ups.

BERLIN: German Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives and their junior coalition partner - the Social Democrats (SPD) - support including aid for start-ups in the government's coronavirus economic aid package, a document seen by Reuters shows.

In a joint motion for amendment to the federal government's draft bill, the conservatives and SPD backed a call from the liberal Free Democrats (FDP) to allow applications from start-ups - which due to their short histories may not have otherwise fulfilled the required conditions - for state aid.