Merkel ponders grand coalition
"An alliance between the conservatives and the SPD is the best option for Germany, better in any case than 'Jamaica', new elections, or a minority government."
Horst Seehofer, Christian Social Union
GERMANY: Hopes were raised for an end to Germany’s political impasse yesterday as Horst Seehofer, leader of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s sister CSU party, said a renewed grand coalition was ‘‘the best option’’ for the country.
In a difficult week, Merkel fought to save her political career and avoid snap elections, after negotiations between her Christian Democrats (CDU) and smaller parties broke down more than four weeks after they began.
The Social Democrats (SPD) had previously ruled out entering into another ‘‘grand coalition’’ with Merkel, after it suffered its worst ever result in the elections in September.
However Martin Schulz, leader of the SPD, back-pedalled and offered Merkel talks on Saturday. ‘‘An alliance between the conservatives and the SPD is the best option for Germany, better in any case than ‘Jamaica’, new elections, or a minority government,’’ Seehofer said yesterday.
The ‘‘Jamaica coalition’’ would involve the CDU, Free Democrats and Greens, whose party colours match those of the Jamaican flag.
Referring to the previous grand coalition, Merkel said at a party conference at the weekend: ‘‘We did a good job. We worked well together.’’ Talks with the SPD will be based on ‘‘mutual respect’’ and ‘‘compromise’’, Merkel said.
The Young Union (JU), the joint youth organisation of the two conservative union parties, has said Merkel, Seehofer and Schulz have until Christmas to form a grand coalition. ‘‘If there is no agreement between CDU, CSU and SPD by this time, the negotiations are to be regarded as failed,’’ it decided on Sunday, according to the Bild am Sonntag newspaper.
Paul Ziemiak, the head of the JU – which wields clout over the parties and claims to be the largest youth political organisation in Europe, with about 120,000 members – told the newspaper: ‘‘If the SPD does not agree, the union must seek a minority government.’’
The German public are also apparently in favour of such a coalition, with 52 per cent saying they would like a repeat, according to a survey for Bild. Failed talks between the conservative union parties, the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) and the Leftleaning Greens broke down when the FDP stormed out of discussions last week, citing irreconcilable differences.
But Merkel said she is determined to get a new government in place as soon as possible to avoid fresh elections, which she fears could strengthen the far-Right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. – Telegraph Group