Friedrich Merz doesn’t fit “Groko” – and he wants something else

CDU boss Friedrich Merz would like a different name for the government coalition he sought with the SPD as “groko”. “A ‘Groko’ can no longer be called the planned coalition with these narrow majorities in parliament,” said the Union Chancellor candidate of the “Bild” newspaper using the abbreviation for a grand coalition from Union and SPD.

So far, the parties have merged four times into a grand coalition. The first edition was in 1966, the other three grand coalitions in the federal government only followed again under Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU).

However, this grand coalition would no longer be as big as it used to be. With only 45 percent, a government of the CDU, CSU and SPD would represent such low second votes as in none of the previous four cases.

But one thing would remain the same: again the Union would be the stronger force.

When asked what he would call the alliance with the SPD instead, Merz replied: “Maybe black-red working coalition or coalition of departure and renewal.” In the end, a suitable name will be found “certainly together”. “But now it depends on the content.”

Before completing the working group level on Monday, there are still numerous open questions in the coalition negotiations of the Union and the SPD. Especially in the area of ​​migration as well as taxes and finances, there are obviously still to bridge differences.

The 17 specialist working groups from Union and SPD are to submit their previous results on the coalition negotiations by Monday at 5 p.m. After that, overarching groups will try to find solutions for controversial topics.