Coalition formation: The DUZ partners-Merz and Klingbeil to succeed “Damn”

One basis for the foreseeable black and red coalition is laid: Friedrich Merz and Lars Klingbeil as probably the most important cornerstone are now by you. “We don’t want to be the best friends at all, but a relationship of trust is to grow,” said the SPD chairman in the ARD program of Caren Miosga. Merz and Klingbeil are scheduled to forge the fifth alliance of the Union and the SPD, the fifth time the Social Democrats would be the junior partners.

A few weeks ago it was difficult to imagine that both will find each other. They had not given themselves anything in the election campaign. Above all, the advance of Merz, also looking for a majority with the AfD in parliament when it comes to migration, an inherited Klingbeil. Merz split the democratic center and committed a “break in taboo,” he criticized at the time. “The trenches between the Union and the SPD have become deeper.” Now the SPD leader said on the ZDF program “Maybrit Illner”: “We were able to clarify these things. And that is the decisive factor for me.”

First GroKo 1966 to 1969

For the first time, the Union and SPD in 1966 came together to form a coalition – which was still large at that time. The exception remained for decades. The cause was stored similarly as last. The Christian Liberal Alliance under Chancellor Ludwig Erhard (CDU) had broken in an economic crisis on the dispute over financial policy. Kurt Georg Kiesinger (CDU), Vice Chancellor and Foreign Minister Willy Brandt became the new Chancellor. For the SPD politician, the Foreign Office was the springboard for more. After the Bundestag election in 1969, Brandt moved into the Chancellery.

Merkel-Müntefering/Steinmeier axis from 2005

It took 36 years to a new edition of black and red. In 2005 the Union was extremely just ahead of the SPD. The new government axis formed Angela Merkel as Chancellor and Franz Müntefering as Vice Chancellor. In the middle of the legislative period, Müntefering withdrew from the government to have more time for his sick woman. Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier took over the Vice Chancellor. Merkel came out well with both Social Democrats, even if there were conflict points at the end of the legislative period. Finally, Steinmeier-voted SPD Chancellor candidate in autumn 2008-wanted to inherit Merkel. It failed.

Four years break until the next GroKo 2013

The FDP got bad for the years from 2009 to 2013, it flew out of the Bundestag, and Merkel did a common cause again with the SPD. Vice Chancellor became SPD leader Sigmar Gabriel. The relationship between the two was also shaped by a basic confidence. Gabriel later praised Merkel that Merkel was a “fine person”. He emphasized her collegiality, but also criticized the boss. Gabriel did not become a candidate for Chancellor from the government office. He waived Martin Schulz in 2017 against Merkel – and lost.

Black and red 2017 only emergency nail

After the 2017 Bundestag election, Schwarz-Rot was not the first choice. For weeks, the Union, Greens and FDP, a new alliance, a so-called Jamaica coalition, tried to form. The liberals got out of the conversations with a bang (FDP boss Lindner: “It is better not to rule than to rule.”). The Union and the SPD struggled to rehabilitate each other again. Merkel went into her fourth term, Olaf Scholz became finance minister and Vice Chancellor. From this position, he finally made it to the Chancellery in 2021.

Second axis faction chairman

It is also important for the rulers that the respective parliamentary group leader harmonize well with each other. The legendary saying by the former SPD parliamentary group leader Peter Struck applies, according to which no law leaves the Bundestag as it is brought in-the so-called Struck law. Nevertheless, in the machine room of politics you have to ensure that no sand comes into the government gear.

In Kiesinger’s chancellorship, these were Helmut Schmidt (SPD) and Rainer Barzel (CDU/CSU). The duo Volker Kauder (Union) and Peter Struck (SPD), who demonstratively wore their close cooperation, was considered to be a style -building. In the Merkel II cabinet, Kauder worked with the SPD parliamentary group leader Thomas Oppermann, who died in 2020.

Anyone who will lead the political groups in the next four years remains to be seen. After the election of February 23, Merz and Klingbeil had initially been chosen as parliamentary chiefs. But that shouldn’t stay that way.

Now there is expected to be the fifth edition of black and red. The name Grand Coalition is forbidden, this time the two strongest forces are not merging. The AfD had referred the SPD to third place in the election. The Union and SPD have no other option than trying together again. “It has to succeed. We are damn,” said Klingbeil in the ARD.

Both have not yet connected too much. When CDU boss Merz was still a parliamentary group leader, Klingbeil worked in the office of the then Chancellor Gerhard Schröder (SPD). In 2009 Merz left the Bundestag, Klingbeil was elected to parliament at the time – after a short intermezzo as a successor in 2005. Merz is 69 years old, Klingbeil 47. Even in sports, both worlds separate. Klingbeil is a fan of Bayern Munich, Merz keeps his fingers crossed by Borussia Dortmund.

After all, both won their constituency directly. You can also meet at eye level purely physically. The probably future chancellor is 1.98 meters tall. Klingbeil is hardly inferior to him at 1.96 meters. It is not quite clear which position the SPD boss is striving for. He could remain faction leader. However, it is more likely that he will become a vice -chancellor in the cabinet and that this position is headed for a candidacy for chancellor in 2029.