Merkel, Schulz in talks to break coalition impasse, form govt
Chancellor Angela Merkel were set to hold first talks Thursday with Social Democrat chief Martin Schulz hoping to end Germany’s political stalemate, but the atmosphere is poisoned by disobedience within her ranks.
Held at the invitation of President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the talks Thursday was expected to explore if both sides are ready to launch negotiations on forming Germany’s next government.
After September’s elections left Merkel without a majority, the SPD had stubbornly ruled out renewing an alliance with her as it suffered a humiliating loss at the polls.
But as Merkel’s bid at forming a coalition with the ecologist Greens and pro-business FDP fell apart, the SPD came under pressure to relent and avert snap elections.
Spiegel weekly noted that Thursday’s meeting, which also ropes in Horst Seehofer – the leader of Merkel’s Bavarian allies – was crucial for the veteran leader.
“For Merkel, it’s a fight for political survival that’s starting,” said Spiegel weekly.
“Merkel must do everything to forge this alliance – the only one that would ensure stable power,” it added.
But the talks are clouded by a political storm sparked this week by a member of her conservatives, Agriculture Minister Christian Schmidt, who flouted the government’s line by voting in favour of approving a disputed weedkiller during an EU meeting.
The action, which Schmidt said he took unilaterally, was condemned as a “breach of trust” by the SPD, which has been junior coalition partner in Merkel’s cabinet since 2013.
With Merkel now wooing the SPD, Schmidt’s action could come at a high price for the conservatives.
“It will weigh on the talks, no question about that,” said Carsten Linnemann, who leads the CDU’s federation of small and medium-size companies.
SPD chief whip Carsten Schneider told broadcaster ARD that the episode showed “Madame Merkel does not have her shop under control.”
And even if Schulz has agreed to sit down with Merkel, he has remained non-committal about the prospects of another grand right-left coalition.
Party rank and file will still discuss “the complete range of possible options” when they hold a congress next week, before deciding whether to open exploratory talks with Merkel’s conservatives, said Schulz.