Union and SPD: The preliminary peace of Würzburg

Finally, Jens Spahn puts his right hand on the back of Matthias Miersch, whispered something to his colleague, then both turn off with a smile. The sun can be seen over Würzburg, the team building mission was successful – right?

They want to “advance Germany”, the parliamentary tips of the Union and the SPD also recorded this in writing after their two -day closed conference in Lower Franconia – apparently this mutual statement was necessary. Cooperation in the coalition should be better. Atmospheric, interpersonal. So far, it has sinked audibly.

The good cooperation of coalition factions is important. Especially with a narrow majority of only 12 votes. The government can decide a lot, the legislators sit in parliament. Therefore, it’s not just about a good mood. But it starts.

Jens Spahn, chairman of the Union faction, raves about a “very good, open, constructive, but also critically working up”. Matthias Miersch, the SPD parliamentary group leader, can say convinced: “I have a good feeling.” And Alexander Hoffmann, CSU national group leader and host of the meeting, is happy about “A wonderful picture”. On Thursday you started in the rain, now landed in the sunshine. He also wants the change in the weather for black and red.

The fact that the coalitioners demonstratively conjure up their new “Spirit of Würzburg” suggests: Team spirit have not recently indicated. Instead, they have stuck astonishingly vigor in public disputes. In Würzburg, a better understanding of each other and the mutual trigger and pain points should arise.

For two days, the managing parliamentary board members of the Union and SPD – a total of 35 people – have withdrawn to a conference hall. For open pronunciation, behind closed doors. To take stock after 115 days of black and red cooperation. SPD parliamentary group leader Miersch sees the fact that nothing has to be reached out of the conversations as a good sign. There was trust, he says.

The decision paper, in which the focus of work of the coming months is spelled out, is unspectacular. It primarily puts consensus topics in the shop window: the new military service law, the reduction of gastrosmal tax, the citizens’ godform and the tariff loyalty law. The Union and SPD have long since agreed. There are six DIN-A4 pages of common spirit if you will.

The potential conflicts that should not be lacking in the coming months still have to be processed. Many of them are on stand-by because they have been postponed to commissions. There, for example, reform proposals for the welfare state and the pension are to be designed. However, they have to implement the Union and SPD. At the latest then it will be shown how resilient the new, common spirit is actually.

SPD parliamentary group leader Matthias Miersch had said to be easy for the recent weeks. Errors have happened. What is meant: The failed judge’s election by SPD candidate Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf to the constitutional judge, who had heavily burdened the black-red ratio.

Some things have not run the way they should have run, Union faction leader Spahn emphasizes. “We regret that we started the summer break like that, that would have better, that should have run differently.” For Miersch, the open pronunciation in Würzburg is the “basic prerequisite” for being able to tackle the big things – such as the social state reforms. That sounds: Even if the new SPD’s new judge does not get through, it was the reform autumn.

Meanwhile, the number of unemployment increases to more than three million, a new maximum value since 2015, and the German economy shrinks more than assumed in the second quarter. This makes a third year of recession more likely. The numbers are “reminders and mandate” at the same time, says Union faction leader Spahn. And internationally, the situation is not easier.

In order to underline the common awareness of the tense world situation, NATO general secretary Mark Rutte was invited to Würzburg. Rutte warned after a new air raid in Russia on Kiev with several dead, not naive in relation to Russia and President Vladimir Putin. Even if a peace still appears far away, a debate has long since taken on a debate whether German soldiers in Ukraine might have had to secure a ceasefire or peace.

The general mixture could still be a stress test for the Bundestag factions of the Union and the SPD, which are still alienated. A first advancement attempt is now made – and should be stabilized.

Next year the closed conference of the executive parliamentary board members will take place in Lower Saxony, the home state of Matthias Miersch. Basically, you want to meet quarterly in the format, also in Berlin. And what if it crunches again? “I’m not a relationship expert now,” says Jens Spahn, “but problems don’t go away that you don’t talk about them.” This also applies to coalitions.