Schwarz-Rot: Coalition wants to decide on the work program by summer

It is to become the central switching point for the new government alliance of the CDU, CSU and SPD: the coalition committee. The committee meets for the first time on Wednesday and wants to decide on a comprehensive work program until the summer break.

What is a coalition committee?

He interlinks the three coalition parties, the Bundestag factions and the government. The committee was also there in previous coalitions to get government projects on track and to solve conflicts between the partners. “He advises matters of fundamental importance that must be coordinated between the coalition partners and leads to consensus in the event of conflict,” says the current coalition agreement of black and red. The Union and SPD understand the committee as a planning unit rather than as an arbitration board.

How many members are there?

The traffic lights committee had 17 members, which did not exactly promote the ability to make decisions. With black and red there are now only eleven-ten men and a woman. This has caused considerable resentment among the women of the Union and the SPD, but depicts the balance of power in the coalition. The top positions mostly have men.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz, parliamentary group leader Jens Spahn and general secretary Carsten Linnemann belong to the committee of the CDU. The SPD sends Vice Chancellor and party leader Lars Klingbeil, co-party leader Saskia Esken and faction leader Matthias Miersch. The CSU named party leader Markus Söder, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt and the chairman of the CSU MPs in the Bundestag, Alexander Hoffmann.

Two “secretary” are added with Chancellor’s office chief Thorsten Frei and Klingbeils State Secretary for the Vice Chancellery, Björn Böhning. They prepare the meetings together, so they have a central role.

Monthly. In addition, the committee should also be able to be convened “at the request of a coalition partner”.

What is the first session about?

The parliamentary summer break begins on July 11th. Until then, the coalition wants to prove that it can get something in Germany. The first two migration laws are to be adopted at the cabinet meeting in the morning. It is about the suspension of the family reunification for refugees without asylum status and the abolition of the accelerated naturalization after three years. However, it will be crucial which measures the coalition will result in relief for the economy by summer, for example the reduction in energy prices.

Are there any other topics?

Yes. It will also be about the situation in Ukraine and in the Gaza Strip. In addition, dealing with the AfD should be an issue. While the Union wants to politically put the largest opposition party, the SPD sympathizes with a ban procedure.

Will it go into the night?

Rather not. It is expected with a meeting time of two to three hours. Then the four party leaders want to step in front of the press to announce the results.