The Coalition Agreement Vote: SPD Members Weigh In - Decision Awaits
Law enforcement officers from the SPD voted on potential partnerships for a new coalition.
Take a deep breath and cross your fingers, folks! That's right, the much-anticipated coalition agreement vote has finally wrapped up, with SPD members casting their vote through digital polling stations until 11:59 p.m. The suspense is thick as we await the dawn to find out if the black-red coalition path is clear.
The 358,000 strong SPD membership has now voted on the coalition agreement with CDU and CSU. The result, however, is still under wraps, with the announcement due early in the morning, around 10:30.
Political InsightsWith a confident air, Alexander Schweitzer, the Social Democratic chairman of Rhineland-Palatinate, predicts a "yes" verdict. "I am confident we will secure a viable approval," he told the 'Rheinische Post,' claiming that the coalition agreement is chock-full of social democracy and a robust compromise between the Union and SPD. He urges the members to understand the importance of a strong government during challenging times.
If the majority indeed agrees, it paves the way for the signing of the 144-page coalition agreement slated for the coming Monday, followed by Friedrich Merz's election as Federal Chancellor the day after. The necessary conditions have already been met: both the CSU board and the CDU have ratified the agreement with the title "Responsibility for Germany," while the 20% participation threshold for the SPD member vote was reached last Monday according to party information.
Person of the WeekAmidst the coalition agreement's political intricacies, the Juso leadership has expressed opposition. The gridlock over migration and social policy has led them to call for renegotiations. However, a majority approval of the contract remains likely, especially considering the absence of alternative coalitions.
In the past, the SPD has also allowed its members to vote on the coalition agreements with the Union in 2013 and 2018. Both times, the outcome was favorable, with 76% and 66% approval, respectively.
Did You Know?The SPD's membership referendum took place on April 29, 2025, with over 358,000 members voting[1]. While the exact approval percentage wasn't explicitly stated in the sources, the vote required a simple majority (50%+1) and surpassed the 20% turnout threshold, making the outcome binding[1]. Official announcements post-April 29 would provide the precise figures.
[1] ntv.de, mau/dpa (April 29, 2025)
- The coalition agreement with CDU and CSU is awaiting the result of the SPD membership vote, with over 358,000 members casting their vote through digital polling stations.
- Alexander Schweitzer, the Social Democratic chairman of Rhineland-Palatinate, predicts a "yes" verdict, claiming that the coalition agreement is full of social democracy and shows a robust compromise between the Union and SPD.
- If the majority agrees, the coalition agreement will be signed on the coming Monday, followed by Friedrich Merz's election as Federal Chancellor the day after.
- The Juso leadership has expressed opposition to the coalition agreement, calling for renegotiations due to gridlock over migration and social policy, but a majority approval of the contract remains likely.
