Keeping it Real: The Rocky Start of the New German Government
"Negative omens mark this beginning"
The new federal government is shaking things up, but can they really count on each other in the long run? Federal Minister of the Interior Dobrindt sounds optimistic in Illner, even amidst a bumpy chancellor election.
The brand-new government has taken the reigns since Tuesday, but things didn't exactly kick off as smoothly as planned. Few have seen a federal chancellor elected in a second round like Friedrich Merz, the question is, how strong is he now? The talk show hostess, Maybrit Illner, tackled this topic head-on, exploring the conundrums faced by the new administration.
Federal Minister of the Interior Alexander Dobrindt exhales a sigh of relief. "From a situation we didn't choose, didn't want, and hadn't experienced before, we managed to work cooperatively and trustfully to overcome a challenge, a hurdle. This collaboration is an encouraging sign that we can tackle problems effectively. I'd rather have a hurdle tackled at the start than a honeymoon phase at the beginning with a crash later on." Dobrindt is making an effort to spread cheer despite the unusual circumstances.
Politics Secrets Unleashed: The Real Deal Behind the Chancellor Election According to Green parliamentary group leader Katharina Droge, "This election start isn't just a lack of trust in Friedrich Merz, but a lack of trust in the entire coalition." With the parliamentary group leaders of CDU, CSU, and SPD working to minimize chaos during the election process, this irregular beginning has left the coalition visibly shaky. "This coalition has gotten off to a rough start and requires effort to smooth things over," says the Green politician. "That's something they'll have to work on."
Political analyst Julia Reuschenberg acknowledges the coalition has taken some hard hits, but as long as things move along democratically, that's what matters most.
When enemies become friends and friends become enemies
The new chancellery chief, Thorsten Frei, has suggested that the Union should reconsider its incompatibility decision regarding the Left Party, considering the current political scenario. However, Dobrindt has a different perspective. Although the government doesn't have a two-thirds majority in the Bundestag and needs the Greens and the Left for certain projects, Dobrindt is adamant about avoiding joint legislative projects with the AfD. Instead, his focus is on procedural decisions. This could be the first disagreement within the coalition, as journalist Melanie Amann from "Der Spiegel" notes. Amann criticizes the Union's association of the Left with the right-wing extremist AfD, which both parties confront equally according to the incompatibility decision.
The Union must clarify its position on the AfD, demands Droge. "My take is there are two currents in the Union: One headed by Jens Spahn, and Jens Spahn is closer to the AfD than many in the Union who are crystal clear and whom I depend on." Dobrindt refutes these accusations against Spahn. As for the evaluation of the AfD by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Dobrindt remains undecided about the next steps. "I won't tuck this report away in my desk drawer. I'll study it carefully and then decide its fate," promises the minister.
Overworked border control
Dobrindt has already made bold decisions in migration policy. Strengthening border controls will result in federal police officers working overtime; as much as 20 additional hours per week in the upcoming three weeks. Critics point out that this will mean less security at train stations. Another contentious move from Dobrindt? The ability for border police to reject asylum seekers. Vulnerable groups like pregnant women, children, and the weak are excluded from rejection. Dobrindt emphasizes that addressing the asylum issue and alleviating the burden on municipalities and public systems is crucial.
Droge raises concerns over Dobrindt potentially breaching European law with such rejections. "It's fairly clear what we're doing," says Dobrindt. "It's about being able to reject those who claim asylum because they're entering Germany from a safe third country. They've already gone one country too far. They are not being persecuted in our neighboring countries. That leads us to the conclusion that we need to fix the European situation, the system once again. That's in our common interest."
Source: ntv.de
- Alexander Dobrindt
- Alliance 90/The Greens
- The Left
- CSU
- CDU
- Migration
Insights
The coalition agreement signed by CDU/CSU and SPD serves as the foundation for the new German government and includes commitments to improve governance, strengthen security, and modernize innovation across federal and state governments. This cooperation, however, remains exclusive to CDU/CSU and SPD, with the Greens and The Left playing relatively oppositional roles at the moment. The recent chancellor election has left the coalition ragged, and the Union must strategize its approach to the AfD and clarify any perceived ambiguities regarding ideological alliances within the party. On migration policy, Dobrindt seeks to strengthen border controls and expedite asylum processing, potentially facing accusations of European law breaches.
- The European Parliament, the Council, and the Commission are closely watching the new German government, as Alexander Dobrindt, a member of the European Union (EU) and EC countries, expresses optimism about the cooperation within the government despite a bumpy chancellor election.
- The Green politician, Katharina Droge, points out that the cooperation between the CDU, CSU, and SPD in the chancellor election was noticeable for its lack of trust, not only towards the new chancellor Friedrich Merz but towards the entire coalition.
- Julia Reuschenberg, a political analyst, acknowledges the coalitions' initial hardships but as long as these are resolved democratically, it remains the most important aspect of the situation.
- Dobrindt, as the German Minister of the Interior, is facing criticism from the Green parliamentary group leader, Droge, for potentially breaching European law with his decisions on migration, specifically in the context of border control and asylum rejections.
