The German social democrat Olaf Scholz announced on Wednesday an agreement to take the head of the first post-Merkel government, with the Greens and the liberals, an unprecedented coalition already facing its first crisis with the resurgence of the Covid pandemic.
These three formations, ranging from the left for the Greens, to the center-left for the SPD, to the right with the Liberals (FDP), indicated that they had agreed on a coalition “contract” for the next four years. after several weeks of negotiations. It gives pride of place to the protection of the environment, with in particular an exit “ideally” from coal anticipated in 2030, against 2038 previously.
Traffic light
“The traffic light is there,” Olaf Scholz told the press, referring to the name given to this coalition because of the political colors of the three parties (red, green and yellow). Never has such a political combination been in power in post-war Germany. Olaf Scholz “will be a strong chancellor,” promised FDP leader Christian Lindner.
In Washington, a spokesman for US diplomacy said his country was “looking forward to working with the new German government on our goals of revitalizing the transatlantic partnership, strengthening cooperation with our allies within NATO and of renewed ambition in our relations with the European Union ”.
“Worry, fear, uncertainty”
The new executive, which has yet to be confirmed in the Chamber of Deputies in early December before assuming office, will however not be entitled to any respite. He must immediately deal with the health crisis which is hitting Europe’s largest economy hard.
“The situation is serious”, admitted Olaf Scholz, 63, while Germany fears a saturation of hospitals. A billion euros will also be released in favor of nursing staff and nursing assistants. “We will take the government (…) at a time when there is so much worry, fear and uncertainty”, underlined the co-president of the Greens Robert Habeck, promising that “everything necessary” will be done to break the most violent wave of contamination since the appearance of the virus in the country.
Germany will also “study” a possible “extension” of the vaccination obligation, in force in the army and soon in health establishments. On the other hand, the new coalition seems to immediately exclude any idea of national containment.
Among the flagship measures that the new team also wants to implement are the return to budgetary rigor from 2023, the legalization of cannabis and the increase, dear to the Social Democrats, of the minimum wage to 12 euros, against 9.6 currently. .
Beating drum
Germany has thus turned the page of the Merkel years, which has only been responsible for the management of current affairs for a month. The Greens are already assured of access to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as a “super” Ministry of Climate and the Economy while the FDP, very orthodox on public accounts, will hold the finance portfolio. .
The coalition agreement was finalized after vigorous negotiations. The rapid conclusion of a government agreement should reassure other European countries, worried after the legislative elections to see Germany, an EU heavyweight, without a real captain on board. And this, at a time when the Twenty-Seven face a new major crisis at their doorstep with the influx orchestrated by Belarus of thousands of migrants to the border with Poland.