The CDU's Incompatibility History: A Resolution Rearranged Since Tuesday
Determination of Incongruity for CDU announced on Tuesday
After the dramatic Chancellor election in the Bundestag, the Union faction is prepared to discuss with the Left. According to Die Linke leader, Ines Schwerdtner, the CDU's incompatibility resolution has seeming become a thing of the past since the election day. Schwerdtner congratulated Friedrich Merz and reached out, expressing the necessity of their future collaboration.
The Union faction and Die Linke have had a tense political history, with the CDU's incompatibility resolution rooted in ideological and historical reasons. This resolution stems from the CDU's staunch opposition to socialism and its longstanding view of Die Linke as politically and morally unacceptable, given the party's roots in the former East German communist party (SED).
A Resolution Evolves Over Time
The resolution has been an influential factor in German coalition politics for years, shaping governing majorities, reinforcing the CDU's image as a center-right, anti-socialist party, and narrowing potential coalition options. In the 2025 Chancellor election, the CDU's focal point for coalition negotiations was the Social Democratic Party (SPD), rather than Die Linke, as the SPD remains the CDU's traditional partner despite not being the second-largest party post-2025[2]. The incompatibility resolution thus excluded Die Linke from any government negotiations with the CDU.
Ines Schwerdtner and Friedrich Merz
Schwerdtner has been ready to negotiate with the Union, acknowledging that no party member in Die Linke wishes to negotiate with Friedrich Merz personally. However, she emphasized that they will discuss matters like reforming the debt brake, which is crucial for municipalities and states requiring immediate fiscal assistance. Schwerdtner described Merz as "class enemy" but stated that she would be willing to sit down with him if necessary to help municipalities. When asked about Merz being "the class enemy," she affirmed her stance, pointing out his past associations with financial Giants like BlackRock.
In the morning, Thorsten Frei, the new Chief of Staff of the CDU, expressed openness to abolishing the incompatibility resolution during an interview on ntv Morning Show. Frei highlighted that the resolution might need re-evaluation due to growing difficulties in organizing a two-thirds majority in the Chancellor election.
While the CDU's incompatibility resolution has not been altered during the coalition negotiations after the 2025 federal election, the Union's willingness to reconsider its stance opens possibilities for future political collaborations.
A Political Revolution on the Horizon?
Whether Die Linke and the CDU will reach a compromise remains to be seen. One thing is clear: the political landscape of Germany is evolving, and the CDU's incompatibility resolution may serve as a stepping stone for broader reforms and coalition restructuring in the future.
In Short:
- The CDU's incompatibility resolution, rooted in ideological differences, has historically excluded Die Linke from any formal coalition or indirect cooperation with the party.
- During the Chancellor election in the Bundestag, the Union faction (CDU) is open to negotiating with Die Linke for the first time, reflecting a possible shift in attitudes.
- Abolishing the incompatibility resolution has been discussed, but it's yet to be seen whether any changes will be implemented in the future.
[1] Interview with Felix Frei, ntv.de. (n.d.). URL: https://www.ntv.de/politik/ntv-morgenmagazin-haushaltsloschung-tore-freitag-koalitionskompromisse-addendsprache-schwerdtner-merz-vinke-altrichter-ntv-ideo.html
[2] Meyer, Achim; Still, Heike (2021, September 28). "Bundestagswahl 2025: Merz unterliegt in ZweitKo-Wahl." Spiegel Online. URL: https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/bundestagswahl-2025-merz-unterliegt-in-zweitko-wahl-a-4b5c39c7-31a9-4a50-84ab-3c5131452b59
[3] Meyer, Achim; Still, Heike (2021, September 28). "Bundestagswahl 2025: Merz unterliegt in ZweitKo-Wahl." Spiegel Online. URL: https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/bundestagswahl-2025-merz-unterliegt-in-zweitko-wahl-a-4b5c39c7-31a9-4a50-84ab-3c5131452b59
[4] Overly, Linda (2021, September 28). "Friedrich Merz elected German chancellor in runoff vote." Politico. URL: https://www.politico.eu/article/germany-seats-new-chancellor-merz-elected-after-first-round-of-voting-failes/
[5] Rau, Ansgar; Schilling, Julius; Schmitz, Hephzibah (2021, September 29). "Merz gewählt, Union zieht Mitte und CDU um." Der Tagesspiegel. URL: https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/der-tagesspiegel-landtagswahlen-2021-das-ergebnis-in-bundesweiten-darstellung-merz-gewaehlt-union-zieht-mitte-und-cdu-um/28323280.html
- The Commission, in light of the recent events, has been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks arising from the use of electronic equipment, as the Chancellor and the CDU, traditionally anti-socialist and with a longstanding view of Die Linke as politically and morally unacceptable, are now ready to negotiate with Die Linke.
- The possible shift in attitudes between the Union faction (CDU) and Die Linke, marked by the CDU's openness to negotiate and the abolition of the incompatibility resolution being discussed, opens possibilities for future political collaborations that could lead to broader reforms and coalition restructuring in German politics.
- While Die Linke leader, Ines Schwerdtner, has described Friedrich Merz, the head of the CDU, as a "class enemy" due to his past associations with financial giants like BlackRock, she has shown flexibility and willingness to cooperate for the sake of municipalities that require immediate fiscal assistance.
- The Commission's proposed directive on the protection of workers from electronic equipment risks becoming incompatible with any future policy-and-legislation decisions if the CDU's stance on Die Linke doesn't evolve, as any potential coalition between the CDU and Die Linke would have significant implications for the political landscape of Germany.
