Politics

The German government is sinking into crisis following the inability of  various actors in the ruling coalition to agree on numerous measures, particularly budgetary ones. A crisis that threatens to take the coalition down with it.

In power for three years, the centre-left government composed of the Social Democrats (SPD), the Greens and the Free Democratic Party (FDP) is facing a real crisis. The three ruling parties seem unable to put an end to their internal conflicts. They're often at odds because many of their fundamental political options differ: the SPD and the Greens believe in a strong state and in a policy financed by debt. The FDP is of the opposite opinion.

The situation has recently worsened due to strong differences in approach to economic policy. A ruling by the Federal Constitutional Court about a year ago revealed the divisions between the coalition partners. Germany's highest court had rejected the government's plan to reallocate funds from unused debt to mitigate the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds had been earmarked for the government's climate change action budget. The court's decision left a deficit of €60 billion.

Since then, divisions in the three-party coalition have been flaring up, to the point where some coalition members have allowed themselves to publish reform proposals without bothering to discuss them with their partners.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), however, wants to keep his government together at all costs. "The government will do its job," Scholz told reporters on the sidelines of a meeting with NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte, in Berlin on Monday. "I'm the chancellor, it is about pragmatism, not ideology," he added.

Several closed-door meetings have already taken place. They will be finalized by a meeting of coalition representatives scheduled for this Wednesday, November 6. The leaders of the three parties and their parliamentary groups will meet at the same table, for the first time in weeks. They will then have to face each other and make their choice: give up or try to save what is still to be saved of the coalition...

(MH with Insaf A /Source: Deutsche Welle/Picture:Pixabay)