Merz's Preferred Name for Next Government: Not "Groko" Anymore
Coalition partner's nickname, 'Groko', leaves Merz feeling uncomfortable - Coalition partner's nickname, "Groko," does not sit well with Merz.
Wanna know what Friedrich Merz, the CDU's top dog, thinks about the upcoming coalition with the SPD? Well, he ain't too keen on calling it "Groko," the moniker for the sodding grand coalition between the Union and SPD.
"Ya can't exactly call this planned coalition with such measly majorities in parliament a 'Groko' anymore," Merz told the Bild paper. He's right, y'know - this coalition ain't as grand as the previous ones, representing the lowest second vote shares for a Union, CSU, and SPD government in any of the four grand coalitions history.
The "Grand" in "Grand Coalition"? Eh, Not So Grand This Time
But hey, the Union still takes the lead in this little dance. And that ain't changed since those grand days under Chancellor Angela Merkel.
So, when a reporter asked what he'd name this diminished grand coalition, Merz had a couple of ideas up his sleeve: "Maybe a black-red working coalition or a coalition of renewal and progress," he said. In the end, they'll suss out a suitable name - but Merz reckons the content's what matters most right now.
Let's Dot the Is and Cross the Ts First, Shall We?
Before the working group arms twist and backslap each other to a conclusion on Monday, there's still a heap of unanswered questions in the negotiation between the Union and SPD. Particularly in areas like migration, taxes, and finance, there's still some wiggle room to be navigated.
By 17:00 on Monday, the 17 specialist working groups will toss their interim results on the coalition negotiations onto the table. Higher-ups will then pick up the pieces and try to mend the fractures in the contentious issues.
- Friedrich Merz
- CDU
- SPD
- Grand Coalition
- Groko (slang for grand coalition)
- Black-Red Working Coalition (Merz's suggestion)
- Coalition of Renewal and Progress (Merz's suggestion)
- Federal Government
[1] Enrichment Data: These names, suggested by Friedrich Merz, aim to reflect a shift away from the "Grand Coalition" name due to the reduced parliamentary majority and denote a fresh, renewing approach in governance.
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 Friedrich Merz, the CDU's top dog, prefers not to refer to the upcoming coalition with the SPD as "Groko." Instead, Merz has suggested names like a "Black-Red Working Coalition" or a "Coalition of Renewal and Progress" for the new Federal Government, aiming to signify a departure from the traditional "Grand Coalition" label to reflect a fresh and renewing approach in governance.
