Germany’s Social Democrats wrangle over coalition talks

SUFFERING a further loss in support, Germany’s Social Democrats (SPD) bickered on Tuesday over their leader’s role after party delegates at the weekend narrowly backed coalition talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives.

As allies of SPD leader Martin Schulz tried to shut down an internal party debate about his role, Mrs Merkel allies pressured the Social Democrats to move quickly to conclude formal coalition negotiations.

Germany has been gripped by political deadlock since a September 24 national election. The coalition negotiations promise to move Europe’s economic powerhouse closer to a stable government.

“After more than 100 days, the citizens of a democracy are entitled to the parties reaching an agreement,” said Andreas Scheuer, Secretary-General of Mrs Merkel’s CSU Bavarian allies.

Volker Kauder, who leads conservatives in parliament, added: “Every day that passes without a new government does not exactly increase trust in the parties and democracy.”

Mr Kauder called for a conclusion to the talks in two to three weeks.

For Mrs Merkel, a re-run of the conservative-SPD Grand Coalition that has governed Europe’s economic powerhouse since 2013 is her best shot at securing a fourth term as chancellor.

But Mr Schulz is in a bind partly of his own making: he needs to deliver on a pledge to SPD delegates on Sunday to wring concessions out of Mrs Merkel, a mission made tougher by waning support for his centre-left party and questions about his role.

A survey by pollster Insa conducted on Monday, a day after the delegates’ vote, showed a dip in support for the SPD to 18 per cent from 18.5 per cent. A new RTL poll conducted on Monday showed the party’s support had dropped a point to 17 per cent.

The SPD is mired in an internal debate about its strategic direction after slumping in September’s election to its worst result since Germany became a federal republic in 1949.

Wolfgang Tiefensee, an SPD politician from the eastern state of Thuringia, said Mr Schulz should make clear he will not serve as a minister in a Cabinet led by Mrs Merkel, as he first said after September’s election.

Many in the SPD believe Mr Schulz wants to be foreign minister.

“A 180-degree pivot on this issue would shatter the credibility of Martin Schulz,” Mr Tiefensee told Die Welt newspaper.

Ralf Stegner, one of the SPD’s deputy leaders, shot back: “I think nothing at all of public proposals for the party leader.”

Adding to Mr Schulz’s woes, mass-selling daily Bild said it was an impassioned speech to delegates on Sunday by the SPD’s parliamentary party leader, Andrea Nahles, that secured their 56 per cent vote in favour of coalition negotiations.

“He knows: Andrea Nahles did his job,” Bild wrote.