Merz's start in government: Conflicts in the coalition are already inevitable!

Merz's start in government: Conflicts in the coalition are already inevitable!

Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) made his first government statement today, in which he outlined the cornerstones of his policy. Merz emphasized the need for voluntariness, personal responsibility and incentives within the political landscape. The focus of its economic and financial policy should be competitiveness, which can be interpreted as a signal for a market economy-oriented administration. He also commented on foreign and European policy issues as well as the economy, which provided a first look at the plans of the new federal government.

As part of this statement, Merz emphasized that two central themes of the coalition agreement leave room for different interpretations. This could indicate future conflicts within the coalition, which consists of the CDU/CSU and SPD.

Conflicts within the coalition

The coalition negotiations lay the foundation for cooperation, but differences became apparent right from the start. The coalition agreement provides for the expansion of the EU's security policy capabilities. This strategy is developing against the backdrop of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and fears of a possible US withdrawal from Europe. Germany aims to play a leading role in the EU in order to strengthen the bloc's ability to act and strategic sovereignty Euractiv reported.

The federal government's draft, which emerged during the coalition negotiations, will be further negotiated by specialist groups. Open disputes should be clarified at the party leadership level. So far there has been agreement on European policy, apart from one central point: the aim is to expand majority decisions in EU foreign policy in order to avoid blockages.

Strategic goals

Clear support for Ukraine was also reiterated, with a promise to do so “for as long as necessary”. The upcoming negotiations on the next long-term EU budget will focus primarily on the issue of defense capability. Merz and his coalition plan to approach EU enlargement strategically and gradually create opportunities for the accession candidates to move closer to the alliance.

Coordination on EU issues remains a controversial topic. The CDU suggests that Merz take the lead. The SPD expresses concerns and instead calls for increasing pressure on all those involved to reach an agreement. The conflict over the so-called “German Vote” remains: This stipulates that the federal government must abstain in the event of disagreement, which makes decision-making in the EU more difficult.

Nevertheless, Merz is confident that agreements can be reached in the remaining conflicts. The latest government statement and the previous negotiations suggest that, despite the differences in the coalition, there is a certain willingness to work together and solve existing challenges.

The federal government's new policy will now be closely monitored, particularly with regard to the challenges ahead and the implementation of the goals set.