Politics Coalition negotiations in Germany begin on Thursday
Starting this Thursday, the CDU, CSU and SPD in Germany will spend ten days negotiating the formation of a new black-red coalition in 16 working groups.
10.03.2025, 14:13
SDA
This was announced by CDU Secretary General Carsten Linnemann following consultations with the CDU leadership in Berlin. The CDU executive had previously unanimously accepted the result of the exploratory talks with the SPD and given the green light for the start of coalition negotiations.
"We have no time to lose," said Linnemann. There was agreement with the SPD and CSU "that we have to pick up the pace here". He spoke of a working coalition that was aware of the responsibility it bore "and that we must regain trust in the middle of parliament". The traffic light government had been characterized by constant bickering and resentment. "This working coalition will radiate a different spirit."
Steering group should ensure concentrated work
When asked whether there would be the new style of government announced by the CDU/CSU with a lean coalition agreement, Linnemann said that the working groups would be closely interlinked with a steering group. This will ensure that not everything is regulated in detail, "but that we really concentrate on the major points".
Of course, there would also be details in a coalition agreement. "We know how it is: if it is not clear how it is to be understood, there is always a dispute in the coalition. We don't want that," said the Secretary General.
In the federal elections on February 23, the CDU/CSU became the strongest party in Germany with 28.5 percent. If the coalition negotiations with the Social Democrats are successfully concluded, CDU leader Friedrich Merz could be elected as the new Federal Chancellor by the Bundestag. The CSU is the CDU's Bavarian sister party. It only runs in Bavaria, the CDU only in the other 15 German states.
