President steps in to try to revive Germany talks
The president of Germany held talks to try to end the country’s growing political crisis. Frank-walter Steinmeier met Christian Lindner – who pulled his Free Democrat Party out of talks at the weekend – in an effort to persuade him to return to the negotiating table to form a government.
THE German president held talks with the heads of political parties yesterday in an attempt to end the crisis over forming a new government and avert new elections.
President Frank-walter Steinmeier met with Christian Lindner – who pulled his Free Democrat Party (FDP) out of coalition talks with Angela Merkel at the weekend – in an effort to persuade him to return to the negotiating table. But Mr Lindner left the Bellevue Palace without comment after spending one hour with the president, and there was little sign of a breakthrough.
In an interview with a German newspaper released shortly after his meeting, Mr Lindner said further coalition talks “made no sense”.
Earlier, Mr Steinmeier met the leaders of the Green Party, who have said they are willing to resume talks.
The most lively discussions are expected today, when the president is set to meet Martin Schulz, the leader of the Social Democrats (SPD).
President Steinmeier, himself a former SPD leader, is said to be furious at Mr Schulz’s refusal to consider talks on a new coalition with Mrs Merkel, and determined to use his influence to change the party’s mind. “Those who apply for political responsibility in elections must not shirk it when they hold it in their hands,” he said this week.
Mr Schulz faces re-election as party leader next month, and dissenting voices are beginning to emerge within the party, but Mr Schulz and his allies remain adamant. However, the chances of a minority government rose after another senior SPD politician said the party could be prepared to support Mrs Merkel from the outside. “We have to consider how we can shape a process that will lead our country to a stable new government,” Andrea Nahles said.
Mrs Merkel has said she would prefer new elections to a minority government, but it is not up to her: under Germany’s constitution, only the president can call new elections. The crisis has thrust Mr Steinmeier centre-stage and presented him with a challenge no post-war German president has faced before: to hold the country together without an elected government. It is not a role 61-year-old Mr Steinmeier can have expected when he became president earlier this year. Normally, the German presidency is purely ceremonial. But the crisis has made Mr Steinmeier the most powerful man in Germany. He can appoint a minority government, and he has complete discretion over how long talks can last.
After twice serving as Mrs Merkel’s foreign minister, Mr Steinmeier has handled tougher negotiations than party talks, including face-offs with Russia over Ukraine and Syria.
A poll released yesterday suggested new elections would return a similarly divided parliament.