Hannibal Hanschke / EPA
Germany’s new Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
SPD’s main policy concerned, but support for Ukraine also generates discord. Internal divisions in social democrats do not help. Can Germany go to elections again?
The new German coalition has not even taken possession yet, but there are already “paradise problems” that has reached an agreement less than a week ago to keep the far right out of the leadership of European power.
Signed, on April 9, and before having officially assumed power, Germany’s new coalition government is already in disagreement with it… to which it has already been agreed.
At issue is a disagreement about whether the policies established in the 144-page “hand grip” between the Centro-Right Democratic Block (CDU/CSU) and the Center left-wing social party (SPD) are guaranteed or only subject to future budgetary restrictions.
At the center of the dispute is the main policy of the SPDAdvances: the reduction of income tax for people with low and average income.
The new chancellor, Friedrich Merz (CDU), stressed that any policy, including tax reduction and investment in infrastructure, will only be applied if it is financially viable. “We do not make promises that we cannot fulfill,” he told, pointing to a clause of the agreement that conditions all measures to the availability of financing.
The SPD came out of hand. Saskia Esken, the party’s co-leader, insisted that tax reduction is a firm commitment, saying to what is a clear and vital agreement to give to “workers and economics” a trusted boost.
The most serious is that tensions extend to foreign policyparticularly with regard to military support to Ukraine. Merz supported the delivery of Long-range Taurus cruise missiles, but SPD Minister of Defense, Boris Pistorius-who should stay in office-opposed the idea, very openly: “I never said it was in favor of it.”
E, Within the SPD, there are also divisions that threaten stability. The party’s youth wing, justice, which represents about 12% of its members, rejected the coalition agreement, especially for “Czech pump” which says it is the plan of the agreement for migration.
Despite everything, “there will be no second round,” said SPD president Lars Klingbeil, warning that the non -ratification of the agreement could trigger new elections or lead to a minority government.
The future of the coalition now depends on SPD members, who have until April 29 to vote the deal. If approved, the parliamentary vote for the appointment of Friedrich Merz as a chancellor is scheduled for May 6.
