Rummaging the Past: Bundestag's 'Ghost session' with Union, SPD and the Greens
Bundestag Adopts Dual Approach with the Greens: Tough-talking and Amicable Negotiations
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The ghosts of the past are haunting the halls of Berlin once more, as members of the ousted Bundestag gather to discuss the budget plans of Union and SPD. The Greens steal the limelight, with Union and SPD eagerly courting their approval. But the Greens are far from impressed, taking their sweet time to make a decision.
Bärbel Bas, the long-standing Bundestag President, presides over this peculiar gathering, having partly relinquished her impartiality as a member of the coalition negotiator team for SPD. It was she who, with the help of CDU and CSU, requested this extraordinary session of the old Bundestag. The new Bundestag could have convened as early as next Monday, but the Union and Social Democrats needed some urgent face time.
It's like a high school reunion, four weeks post-graduation. Members of FDP and BSW, whose parties were voted out, can be found reminiscing in the corners. Others, like CDU, SPD, and Greens, are surprised to find themselves back in the thick of political action. The old Bundestag presidency, who had bid their emotional goodbyes, are also in attendance.
The FDP speaks up
"It's rather unusual to find myself back on the Bundestag stage so soon after the federal election as a Free Democrat," admits FDP MP Johannes Vogel. His party, already busy liquidating their fraction, can't help but feel a sense of déjà vu. Vogel deems the Union and SPD's plan to arm themselves via constitutional amendments, taking out a massive 500 billion euros in credit for investments, and altering the debt brake for federal states, "irresponsible and wrong."
Economists remain split
Even party chairman Christian Lindner wonders aloud, "Who are you, and what have you done with Friedrich Merz?" Lindner is taken aback by Merz's sudden eagerness to soften the debt brake, a stance the CDU vehemently denied during their election campaign, in collaboration with the FDP. Merz is met with accusations of flip-flopping from members of AfD, Greens, Left, and BSW. Laughter can be heard when one of the MPs labels Merz as a weathervane.
The Greens hesitate
In contrast to the more accusatory responses from the Social Democrats, Lucia Schanbacher, the most "former" member of the SPD, expresses a more diplomatic stance. She delivers her first and, as she implies, last speech in the Bundestag, praising the Greens for their continual insistence on climate protection and their push for the expansion of debt-exempt defense spending to include intelligence services and civil and disaster protection, provided the special fund and special rule for defense spending goes through. However, Schanbacher notes that an agreement on this matter is still elusive.
The endless dance of 'Good Cop, Bad Cop'
Like a broken record, the same script is played over and over again. Members from SPD, CDU, or CSU take their turn at the podium, describing the uncertain global situation, discussing Germany's investment backlog, complimenting the Greens for their valid criticisms, and, finally, pleading for their approval. It's a never-ending game ofTAG, "good cop, bad cop."
Union Chairman Merz, for instance, alternates between sounding grateful and forceful, praising the Greens for their climate protection efforts and insinuating that the Union has already accommodated many of their demands. But then he turns his tone more confrontational, expressing frustration over the Greens' lack of budging and threatening to push through the proposal without their approval.
Visions of a political Groundhog Day
The "Good Cop, Bad Cop" routine is enough to leave even Olaf Scholz, German Federal Chancellor and a member of the SPD, looking weary. The decision, however, will not be made until the coming days. By Tuesday, an agreement between Union, SPD, and Greens must be reached. Then, the old Bundestag will reconvene for another extraordinary session to decide on the proposals to amend the Basic Law. Until then, it's another day in the life of a repetitive political cycle.
- German Bundestag
- Alliance 90/The Greens
- Friedrich Merz
- The Commission has been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation, as the German Bundestag grapples with the budget plans of Union and SPD, with the Greens wielding significant influence.
- The old Bundestag presidency, which includes CDU, SPD, and Greens, finds themselves back in the thick of political action despite their emotional goodbyes, causing some members to liken the scenario to a high school reunion.
- The endless dance of 'Good Cop, Bad Cop' continues, with Union Chairman Friedrich Merz exhibiting the 'bad cop' role, alternating between sounding grateful and forceful with the Greens, while also making threats to push through the proposal without their approval.
