The Germans are getting closer to the post-Merkel era. This Thursday, October 7, the German Social Democrats (SPD), Greens and Liberals (FDP) will meet to start discussions on the formation of a coalition government.
The preliminary meeting comes ten days after the victory of Olaf Scholz’s SPD in the federal election, putting him in a good position to become the country’s next chancellor. If ever the three parties manage to come to an agreement, Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrats (CDU) led by Armin Laschet would be ousted from power. A humiliation after eighteen years at the helm.
Since the elections, backstage negotiations have taken place. The Greens and the FDU, respectively third and fourth in the ballot, are in the position of kingmakers. Without their participation, no government can currently be formed. And if certain statements are to be believed, this alliance with the SPD is on the right track. “Discussions in recent weeks have shown that the greatest intersections in terms of content are conceivable in this scheme, especially in the area of social policy,” said Robert Habeck, co-chair of the Greens.
The CDU is already playing defeated?
The FDP has a more natural inclination for a coalition with the CDU. However, the Greens have often repeated that they want to send the Conservatives back to the opposition. If this position is confirmed, it is difficult to imagine the FDP succeeding in forming a government with the CDU. Talking with the SDP guarantees them the possibility of influencing German policy by forming a “progressive center” coalition, in the words of its leader, Christian Lindner.
However, all agree that the agreement is not yet in place. “The biscuit is far from being eaten,” said Robert Habeck. Because the three parties will have to agree on the program carried by the alliance, while differences of opinion oppose them.
However, a Forsa poll published on October 6 should push them to come to an agreement, since 53% of those questioned said they wanted an SPD-FDP-Greens coalition. The blow is harder for the conservatives, who should withdraw in the opposition according to 74% of the voters. If Armin Laschet ensures that he does not intend to let go so quickly, several tenors of the CDU already admit defeat. “We must now do our duty and show that we have understood the lesson,” tweeted Peter Altmaier, close to Angela Merkel and currently Minister of the Economy.