New federal government: coalition agreement is – how is it going now?

The most important work is done – the coalition agreement between the CDU, CSU and SPD is. But until the formation of the new black and red federal government will take some time. Not all data is already certain.

SPD makes members decide

First, the CDU, CSU and SPD will have the coalition agreement approved within the party. The SPD is the most widely, which keeps a member survey. All members are written to by post, but the vote should then be carried out purely digitally. This could happen in the week before and after Easter. The SPD had also caught up with the Union in 2013 and 2018 through the coalition contracts. There was great approval both times. In contrast, there was no membership decision at the traffic light coalition with the Greens and FDP in 2021.

CDU appoints a small party conference

In the CDU, too, demands for a member survey were loud. After the party statutes, however, a small party congress (Federal Committee) decides on the result of coalition negotiations. “And we will handle that too,” said the first parliamentary managing director of the Union faction in the Bundestag, Thorsten Frei. According to reports, April 28th is targeted.

In the CSU, a board resolution is sufficient

In contrast to the SPD and CDU, the party -internal coordination of the coalition agreement in the CSU is much easier. Although the party statute does not make any specifications, party leader Markus Söder will have the board voted on it. Its consent is basically considered safe. The vote also helps Söder to better protect the contract against criticism from its own ranks.

Signing the coalition agreement

Actually, it is a formality, but the signing of the coalition agreement after the official approval of all parties is often celebrated. In December 2021, the traffic light parties chose the Berlin Futurium, a center for exhibitions on the subject of future design-to match the title “More progress” of their 177-page coalition agreement.

The formation of government is completed by the election of the new Chancellor and the appointment of his cabinet. May 7th is in conversation for this. According to Article 63 of the Basic Law, the Federal Chancellor is elected by the Bundestag without a pronunciation at the proposal of the Federal President. “It is chosen who unites the votes of the majority of the members of the Bundestag.”

The Federal President also plays a role

The chosen-probably CDU boss Friedrich Merz-then goes to Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Bellevue Castle, where he receives his certificate of appointment. Then it goes back to the Bundestag, where he makes his notice of office.

Another trip to Bellevue Castle follows – this time accompanied by the new cabinet, the members of which are appointed by the Federal President. The day finally ends in the Bundestag, where the new ministers do the oath of office. Then the new government is in office.