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German coalition talks close to collapse German coalition talks hit by FDP walkout
(about 4 hours later)
Exploratory talks to form Germany’s next coalition government were on the verge of collapse on Sunday night after the four parties involved missed their own deadline to resolve differences on migration and energy policy. Exploratory talks to form Germany’s next coalition government appeared to have collapsed shortly before midnight on Sunday when the pro-business Free Democratic Party (FDP) walked out of marathon negotiations.
Chancellor Angela Merkel has been trying to forge a coalition between her Christian Democratic Union (CDU), its Bavarian sister party the Christian Social Union (CSU), the pro-business Free Democratic Party (FDP) and the Green party following federal elections at the end of September. “The four discussion partners have no common vision for modernisation of the country or common basis of trust,” the FDP leader, Christian Lindner, announced after the four parties involved missed several self-prescribed deadlines to resolve differences on migration and energy policy. “It is better not to govern than to govern badly.”
A so-called “Jamaica” coalition – so nicknamed because the parties’ traditional colours mirror that of the Jamaican flag – represents new ground even for Germany’s experienced leader, and has only previously been tested at regional level. Chancellor Angela Merkel has been trying to forge a coalition between her Christian Democratic Union (CDU), its Bavarian sister party the Christian Social Union (CSU), the pro-business FDP and the Green party following federal elections at the end of September.
In a month of exploratory talks, Merkel has often cut a passive figure as party representatives found themselves at loggerheads over issues such as the question of how many of the migrants who found their way to Germany in 2015 and 2016 will be allowed to be reunited with their families. A so-called “Jamaica” coalition – so nicknamed because the parties’ traditional colours mirror those of the Jamaican flag – represents new ground even for Germany’s experienced leader and has only previously been tested at regional level.
Migration has emerged as a contentious political issue in Germany following the refugee crisis, which saw some 1.2 million migrants enter the country in 2015-2016. The backlash against Merkel’s decision to keep open Germany’s borders has seen a far-right party, the anti-refugee Alternative für Deutschland, enter the German parliament for the first time in over 50 years. In a month of talks, Merkel has often cut a passive figure as party representatives found themselves at loggerheads over issues such as the question of how many of the migrants who found their way to Germany in 2015 and 2016 would be allowed to be reunited with their families.
Coalition talks in Berlin have seen the CDU, the CSU and the FDP at times working to outdo each other on calling for a harder line on migration controls. Migration emerged as a contentious political issue in Germany following the refugee crisis, when 1.2 million migrants entered the country in 2015-16. The backlash against Merkel’s decision to keep open Germany’s borders has resulted in a far-right party, the anti-refugee Alternative für Deutschland, enter the German parliament for the first time in more than 50 years.
According to reports in German media, the Green party over the weekend suggested a compromise whereby they would agree to limit Germany’s annual intake of migrants to a benchmark figure of 200,000 – as long as other parties didn’t rule out that migrants with “subsidiary protection” status could be reunited with their families. In the coalition talks in Berlin, the CDU, the CSU and the FDP have, at times, worked to outdo each other on calling for a harder line on migration controls.
The parties have also struggled to find a common ground on climate change, with the Greens calling for a reduction in coal-generated power of8-10 gigawatts while its potential coalition partners have expressed concerns about job losses in the energy and manufacturing sector. According to reports in German media, the Green party suggested a compromise over the weekend whereby they would agree to limit Germany’s annual intake of migrants to a benchmark figure of 200,000 – as long as other parties did not rule out allowing migrants with “subsidiary protection” status to be reunited with their families.
At the start of the weekend the FDP leader, Christian Lindner, had announced a deadline for the exploratory talks. “If we don’t work it out by 6pm on Sunday, the whole thing is dead,” his deputy, Wolfgang Kubicki, said. Yet by 6pm on Sunday, talks were still ongoing. The parties have struggled to find a common ground on climate change, with the Greens calling for a reduction in coal-generated power of8-10 gigawatts while its potential coalition partners have expressed concerns about job losses in the energy and manufacturing sector.
Were the parties to come to an agreement, negotiations would move to the next stage, in which a document with fundamental agreements provides the basis for the carving up of ministerial roles. At the start of the weekend, the FDP leader, Christian Lindner, announced a deadline for the exploratory talks. “If we don’t work it out by 6pm on Sunday, the whole thing is dead,” his deputy, Wolfgang Kubicki, said. Yet the talks went on past that deadline.
If the talks collapse, Merkel could seek to form a minority government, either with the FDP or the Greens, and would have to gather support from other parties on individual policy votes. If the parties had come to an agreement, negotiations would have moved to the next stage, in which a document with fundamental agreements provides the basis for the carving up of ministerial roles.
The Social Democrat leader, Martin Schulz, whose party has played junior partner to Merkel in the German government for the last four years, on Sunday ruled out the possibility of another “grand coalition” under his leadership. “The voter has rejected the grand coalition”, Schulz said at a party conference in Nuremberg on Sunday. With talks now seemingly over, Merkel could seek to form a minority government, either with the FDP or the Greens, and gather support from other parties on individual policy votes.
The Social Democrat leader, Martin Schulz, whose party has played junior partner to Merkel in the German government for the past four years, ruled out the possibility of another grand coalition under his leadership. “The voter has rejected the grand coalition,” Schulz said at a party conference in Nuremberg on Sunday.
Once all other options are exhausted, Germany’s president, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, could dissolve the current parliament and call fresh elections.Once all other options are exhausted, Germany’s president, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, could dissolve the current parliament and call fresh elections.