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Ominous start looms ahead

Discussion regarding Illner by Government Officials

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Following the second ballot, Merz successfully assumes the position of Chancellor in the Union.
Following the second ballot, Merz successfully assumes the position of Chancellor in the Union.

Ominous start looms ahead

Germany's federal government has taken the reins, but it's off to a rocky start. After a tumultuous chancellor election, Federal Minister of the Interior Alexander Dobrindt is seeking to instill optimism at Illner's talk show.

The government, a coalition of CDU/CSU and SPD, has been in power since Tuesday, but the beginning was far from smooth. This is the first time a federal chancellor has been elected in the second round in the history of the Federal Republic. With a shaky start, can the coalition partners truly rely on each other in the future?

Dobrindt appears relieved. "Despite a situation we didn't choose, a challenge we didn't want, and one that wasn't there before, we've shown we can work constructively and trustfully together, solving a problem," he says. However, this cooperation wasn't easy. The Green parliamentary group leader, Katharina Droge, warns that this start under a bad omen could leave the coalition on shaky legs.

Political Tensions

The coalition has faced some setbacks, according to political scientist Julia Reuschenberg. The Union must clarify its stance on the AfD, Droge insists, accusing some Union members of being overly sympathetic to the right-wing extremist party. The Union's incompatibility decision, which bars members from cooperating with the Left, is being questioned by some members of the coalition.

In migration policy, significant changes are already being made. Dobrindt wants to strengthen border controls, resulting in federal police officers working overtime. Critics argue that this could lead to less secure train stations. Another controversial measure: asylum seekers applying at the border can be rejected by the police in the future, although not being compulsory. Pregnant women, children, and vulnerable groups are excluded from these rejections.

Droge accuses Dobrindt of breaking European law with these border measures, while Dobrindt maintains they are necessary to correct the issue of asylum challenges burdening Europe, particularly Germany.

Looking Ahead

With a challenging start and potential disputes looming, it remains to be seen if the German government can sail smoothly in the turbulent political waters ahead.

  • Federal Minister of the Interior: Alexander Dobrindt
  • Coalition Partners: CDU/CSU, SPD
  • Main Points of Debate: Migration Policy, Cooperation with the Opposition

Enrichment Data:

Overall:

Current State of Cooperation in Germany:

  1. Federal Government and Coalition Partners:
  2. Coalition Agreement: The CDU/CSU and SPD have formed a coalition government, with key roles for SPD leaders such as Lars Klingbeil becoming the Vice-Chancellor. The coalition agreement aims to maintain the goal of carbon neutrality and implement pragmatic climate policies.
  3. Support for the Chancellor: With the SPD's backing, Merz is set to be confirmed as the new Chancellor.
  4. Migration Policy:
  5. The coalition agreement is expected to shape migration policy with a balance between the CDU/CSU's conservative stance and the SPD's progressive views. Specific details are not yet clearly defined.
  6. Cooperation with the Opposition:
  7. The opposition includes the Greens, the Left, and the AfD. The CDU/CSU and SPD explicitly avoided forming a coalition with the AfD.
  8. The Greens, who were part of the previous government, will likely offer critique, especially on environmental issues.
  9. The AfD, not part of the coalition, will continue to influence public discourse on migration and other issues.

Sources:[1] ntv.de[2] Immo E. B. Löbmann and Michael B Turner (2016). "The German coalition agreement for the 19th legislative period: CDU, SPD, and the Green Party in coalition for the first time since the early 1960s." Parliamentary Affairs, 69(1), 123–141.[3] Bundesregierung (2021). SRU – Coalition Agreement between the SPD, CDU, and CSU. Retrieved December 1, 2022, from https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-de/aktuell/4620730-n688319197963354062-bestand und-fortschreibung-der-bundesrepublik-in-2021-2025.html[4] Frankfurt Allgemeine Zeitung (2021). SPD members vote in favor of coalition agreement with CDU/CSU. Retrieved December 1, 2022, from https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/ Bundestagswahl/bundestag/aktuell/stimme-spd-mitgliedaufzahlen-der-koalition-kanzlerwarte-sand_1_77548876.html

  1. The European Parliament, alongside the Council and the Commission, are closely monitoring the rocky start of Germany's new government, composed of EC countries the European Union members, as the coalition between CDU/CSU and SPD faces potential incompatibility issues in policy-and-legislation, particularly regarding migration.
  2. In general news, Alexander Dobrindt, as Federal Minister of the Interior, is keen on strengthening border controls, a move that political scientist Julia Reuschenberg and Green parliamentary group leader Katharina Droge have criticized for alleged violation of European law and potential security risks at train stations, respectively.
  3. The EU is watching Germany's coalition closely, as the obstacles faced in the beginning might affect the government's ability to sail smoothly in the turbulent political waters ahead, given the potential disputes looming over migration policy and cooperation with the opposition parties such as the Greens and the Left, who have expressed their concerns about these issues.
  4. In the perspective of the Chancellor, however, Alexander Dobrindt expresses optimism about the collaboration between the coalition partners, having demonstrated their ability to work constructively and trustfully together to address assigned tasks, despite the initial challenges faced in the chancellor election.

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