Difficult negotiations between the two parties to form the next government

Germany, the pole of stability under Merkel, is entering a much more unpredictable phase, with tough debates on the horizon to form the next government after legislative elections: both SPDs, short-headed winners, which conservatives claim to lead. .

Beginning on the morning of Monday, September 27, the leaders of the various parties capable of entering into a future alliance will meet in Berlin. They should provide indications of alliances they are considering.

Olaf Schultz wants to rule with the Greens and the FDP

Lauded at his party headquarters in Berlin, Olaf Schulz said he had been given a mandate to lead the next government, while specifying that he would seek to form a coalition with the Greens and the Free Democrats (FDP). Voters spoke very clearly. They said we must form the next government.”, He said.

He wrote on Twitter: ” that they [les électeurs] Three limbs reinforced – The Social Democrats, the Green Party and the Free Democratic Party – Thus, this is the clear mandate given to the citizens of this country: these three must form the next government. ”

Happy SPD! Congratulations ManuelaSchwesig and FranziskaGiffey on your electoral victories at MV and Ber… https://t.co/qxdQ3NsBJA

– OlafScholz (Olaf Scholz)

According to the provisional official results announced by the Independent High Electoral CommissionThe center-left of the Social Democrats headed by Olaf Schulz, won 25.7% of the vote, just ahead of Armin Laschet’s conservative CDU-CSU, which had a historically low score of 24.1%. Conservatives have never fallen below the 30% threshold. This is a stinging setback for Chancellor Angela Merkel’s camp as she is due to retire from politics.

A hard-to-form majority

Beyond that, everything still has to be done in the country. Because in Germany, it is not the electors who directly elect the head of government, but the deputies, once the majority is formed. The latter is especially difficult this time, because it has to bring together three parties – unheard of since the 1950s – due to the collapse of votes.

“The game of poker begins”, notes the magazine woman. the cars After the vote, basic questions remain open: Who will the advisor be? Which alliance will rule the country in the future?, he is referring to.

For the Social Democrats, things are clear: “What is certain is that many citizens” The SPD voted because of“They want to change the government and also because they want to name the next chancellor, Olaf Schultz.”The latter said, 63.

The problem: his opponent from the right of the center despite the result ” disappointing “, not ready to join the opposition benches: “We will do everything in our power to build a union led government.” CDU-CSU, the Christian Democratic candidate reassured.

It was hoped that a conclusion would be reached before Christmas

In Germany, discussions to form a new executive body are the sole responsibility of the political parties. At the end of the previous elections in 2017, the current grand coalition could only be formed after more than six months, leading to political paralysis in Germany, especially on European issues.

However, both the SPD and the center-right said they aimed to reach a conclusion before Christmas. Will they succeed? Germany will assume the presidency of the G7 in 2022., remembers Mr. Laschet, which is why the new government must “Come very quickly”.

In the current composition, there are several possible solutions to the majority in the Bundestag, which will include 735 deputies, 137 for more than four years, according to the Electoral Commission.

Thus, the Social Democratic Party, with 206 deputies, could ally with the Greens, whose party came third in the poll, with 14.8% (118 deputies), and the Liberals from the Free Democratic Party, a right-wing party with 11.5% (92 deputy). Seating). Instead, it is the Conservatives (196 seats) who can rule with the Greens and the Free Democratic Party.

“King Makers”

According to a YouGov poll released Sunday night to Monday, a majority of voters favor the first option. And 43% of them believe Olaf Schulz should become the next chancellor for Europe’s largest economy. So everything will depend on the goodwill of two small parties, qualified on Monday by the daily picture from “Kingmakers”.

Free Democratic Party leader Christian LindnerMoreover, I estimated on Sunday that it would be “desirable” For his party and advocates of environmental protection to discuss first among themselves Before deciding to ally with conservatives or social democrats.

For Germany’s oldest party, the coming weeks will be a test. Throughout the campaign, the Social Democrats put an end to their legendary feuds between the left and center in support of their leader, current Finance Minister Angela Merkel.

But how would he react if it was new “Olav the Hero” Should she mourn half of her program to please the liberal right? Southgerman newspaper. Because the FDP will never accept a tax hike for the rich, as the SPD and the Greens want it to. At the end of the day, the newspaper said, the formation of the coalition will be put to the votes of the Social Democratic Party members. But in 2018, they favored appointing a duo of outsiders from the party’s left wing.

Find here our daily columns on the German legislative campaign