Future government: Coalition negotiations apparently shortly before completion

In the expectation of an agreement in the coming hours, the top representatives of the CDU, CSU and SPD have come together for the last round of their coalition negotiations. “We are on the last few meters,” said deputy CDU chairman Karin Prien when he arrived at the CDU headquarters in Berlin. She is “good things that we will come to a good result today”.

The first parliamentary managing director of the Union faction in the Bundestag, Thorsten Frei, answered when asked whether the sack would be closed today: “Certainly.” Leading SPD politicians were also optimistic. “It is worth waiting today,” said SPD general secretary Matthias Miersch to the journalists who had gathered in front of the CDU headquarters.

Confidence for everyone involved

“I have the feeling that it could be a good day for Germany and for Bavaria,” said CSU boss Markus Söder. The deputy SPD chairman Anke Rehlinger commented similarly positively: “I am confident that we can now successfully go with each other the last few meters.” When asked where there was still hake, the Saarland Prime Minister added: “There are always a few questions at the end that you have to clarify.”

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania’s head of government Manuela Schwesig (SPD) said: “Everyone wishes that we will be ready, the citizens and we too. I hope that this will work.”

CSU state group leader Alexander Dobrindt said on arrival: “The final sprint begins in a few minutes.” Now concentrated work is the order of the day.

Agree until afternoon aimed at

The negotiators of the CDU, CSU and SPD want to reach an agreement on a coalition agreement by the afternoon. If this succeeds, then you will probably present the results in a press conference.

Before the new round of negotiations, the CDU chairman Friedrich Merz informed his party’s presidium about the status of the talks. In the afternoon, according to information from the German Press Agency, the CDU board wants to come together for a switching conference, and switching both factions are planned for the evening.

Coalition negotiations have been running for almost four weeks

The coalition negotiations started on March 13, three weeks after the Bundestag election on February 23. Previously, the Union and SPD had already agreed in exploratory talks to an eleven -page key point paper, which, among other things, provided for the loosening of the debt brake for defense and a special fund of 500 billion euros for investments, especially in the infrastructure.

On Tuesday, the negotiators had struggled for compromises for around 13 hours in different rounds with different compositions. However, the final agreement was left. The consultations were in a “good mood” and with an “extremely high dynamic”, Dobrindt reported. “A lot could be done.”

Turbulence of the global economy increases the pressure of unification

Last but not least, President Donald Trump’s international situation and the customs policy of the US government put the negotiators under additional pressure to collect. Experts see new recession dangers and problems for the export-oriented German economy because of the US tariffs. With falling corporate taxes, less bureaucracy and lower energy prices, the expected new Chancellor Merz wants to keep against it.

No alternative to a new black and red coalition

In fact, there is no alternative to a government alliance from the Union and SPD because black and green would have no majority and a collaboration with the AfD is clearly excluded from the Union.

In the CDU, annoyance was repeatedly loud during the coalition negotiations. The Junge Union threatened a coalition agreement if the change of policy promised by Merz is not anchored in the election campaign. The district association Potsdam-Mittelmark called for a membership survey like the SPD, but this was freely rejected by parliamentary managing directors.

The unrest is nourished by poor survey values ​​for the Union. CDU and CSU have lost several percentage points since 28.5 percent of the federal election. The AfD is getting closer to the Union, and even concluded to her in a survey by Insa.

Government formation no longer realistic before Easter

If an agreement with the Union on a coalition agreement, the SPD wants to have its members voted digitally within ten days. On the part of the CDU, a small party congress decides on the contract, at the CSU a board decision is sufficient.

As a suspected Federal Chancellor in SPE, Merz originally issued the goal of forming a government by Easter. This can no longer be achieved. As a possible date for the chancellor’s election, May 7th is now in the room.