Conservatives led by Friedrich Merz in Germany formalize a coalition pact with the center-left faction

The "Black-Red" coalition has officially been formed. After multiple weeks of negotiations, conservative contender for the next German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, inked a contract with the Social Democratic Party (SPD, center-left) on May 5, clearing the way for the new government to be officially established on Tuesday.

This incoming administration aims to revitalize the economy, which has been in a slump for the past two years, limit the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, and bolster European defense in response to the strategic pullback by the United States. "If I am elected tomorrow and the cabinet members are confirmed, you'll have a government set on advancing Germany via reforms and investments – a government that will make an effort from day one to remain dependable," Friedrich Merz declared before the signing ceremony.

Check it Out

A New Pragmatist: Friedrich Merz, the future German ChancellorThe contract was sealed by Merz, serving as the president of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), SPD leaders Lars Klingbeil and Saskia Esken, and Markus Söder, president of the Christian Social Union (CSU), allied with the CDU. "We're navigating a time of profound changes, immense upheavals, and great uncertainty," Merz acknowledged. "That's why it's our historical responsibility to lead this coalition to success. We're determined to achieve it," he emphasized, as the far-right salivates over the possibility of winning the next legislative elections in 2029, with some polls currently placing it atop voting intentions.

Building Bridges

Friedrich Merz, 69, is set to officially become Chancellor on Tuesday after the conservative camp's victory in the February 23 legislative elections. He will succeed the Social Democrat Olaf Scholz, who was soundly defeated in this election. The coalition consisting of Scholz and the Greens, along with the liberals of the FDP ceased functioning on November 6, 2024, the same night as Donald Trump's re-election as the U.S. President, due to unresolvable disagreements on budgetary priorities.

"The new government necessitates authentic teamwork now more than ever," Klingbeil, the future Vice-Chancellor and Minister of Finance, emphasized in this regard. "The best thing we can do in a democracy is to find resolutions for disagreements and build bridges," the new power player of the SPD estimated.

More Reading

Friedrich Merz, the future German Chancellor, unveils his coalition agreement: illegal immigration, taxes, bureaucracy
According to the coalition agreement, Friedrich Merz, the incoming German Chancellor, plans to address key policy areas such as managing illegal immigration, reforming tax laws, and reducing bureaucracy.
Merz's coalition, established with the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), the Christian Social Union (CSU), and the Social Democratic Party (SPD), aims to revitalize the economy and bolster European defense, as outlined in the coalition's policy-and-legislation agenda.
The coalition agreement was signed on May 5, 2021, ending months of negotiations within the political landscape, and the new government is set to take office on Tuesday.
The breakdown of the Scholz-led coalition consisting of the Greens, the liberals of the FDP, and the Social Democrats, which ceased functioning on November 6, 2024, makes way for the 2029 legislative elections, where the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is currently showing a strong presence in the polls.