Germany Final spurt in talks on new German government
Christian Democrats and Social Democrats are entering the potentially decisive hours in their talks on a new German government.
08.04.2025, 15:39
08.04.2025, 15:40
SDA
Not least in view of the international situation and the new US customs policy, the negotiators are feeling pressure for a swift conclusion. "It should be quick, it has to be good," said CDU politician Jens Spahn in Berlin.
For almost four weeks, leading politicians from the CDU, CSU and SPD have been negotiating a joint coalition agreement, which should set out the most important plans of a black-red government. Saarland Minister President Anke Rehlinger (SPD) believes the negotiators are making good progress. "The last few meters are the most strenuous, but I am sure that the efforts will be worthwhile," she said in front of the Konrad Adenauer House.
Allocation of ministries not yet an issue
The Parliamentary Secretary of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group in the Bundestag, Thorsten Frei, was optimistic that a deal would be reached soon. When asked whether it would be possible to finish on Wednesday, he said: "Of course, that also depends on the dynamics of the next few hours. But overall, there is a very strong will to reach an agreement." Many points of contention had been cleared out of the way.
A lot had been agreed on Monday, said SPD politician Bärbel Bas. However, some issues were still on the table. The distribution of ministries, which is traditionally the very last issue to be resolved in coalition negotiations, has not yet been settled. "We are still working on the content," said the former Bundestag President.
On RTL and ntv's "Frühstart", Bas had previously emphasized that it was also important to reach a conclusion quickly due to the news from the USA. I can't say exactly to the day, but the pressure is already there," she said. Everything could still fail. "The final negotiations are another thing that could crack. Of course, it's about the financing," said Bas.
The possibility of taking on billions in debt does not solve the budget dispute. "It does not secure the budget financially; we still have a structural deficit." Austerity measures would also have to be taken.
Citizen dissatisfaction creates pressure
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's Minister President Manuela Schwesig also sees the negotiators under particular time pressure - this time it is different to the last coalition negotiations to form a traffic light government, said the SPD politician. There is great dissatisfaction in Germany and citizens want a new government quickly.
"I find that understandable and it is important that we get a stable and reliable government," said Schwesig. However, it is also important that this government delivers what it promises and therefore the necessary time must be taken.
What happens after the agreement
Even if the leaders of the three parties have agreed on a coalition agreement at some point, the new government is not yet in place. The agreement still has to be approved by the CDU, CSU and SPD. The SPD wants to put it to a vote of all its members.
The member consultation will certainly be labor-intensive once again, said Bas. "Knowing my SPD, they won't just wave it through, they will take a very critical look at the agreement," she said. The negotiators would have to explain the coalition agreement well and campaign for a yes vote.
Calls for a membership referendum had also recently been made within the CDU - primarily due to the decisions made by the federal party and the parliamentary group on the debt package and the debt brake. Frei rejected the demands. The CDU's constitution is very clear: "Namely that a small party conference will decide on the outcome of the coalition agreement," he said. "And that's how we will handle it."
