Left Party: "CDU's Incompatibility Resolution is Yesterday's News"
On Tuesday, a notable incompatibility decision was made concerning the CDU party
Get ready for a surprise twist, folks! After the second round of voting for the Chancellor's election, Ines Schwerdtner, leader of the Left Party, declared the CDU's long-standing incompatibility resolution as a relic of the past. They even offered Merz, the newly elected Chancellor, a helping hand. But don't forget, she also labeled him as the "class enemy."
So, what's the deal here? Well, on Tuesday, the Union faction was in talks with the Left Party to make another round of Chancellor voting possible. This move effectively dissolved the CDU's incompatibility resolution, according to Schwerdtner. Yet, she acknowledged the ideological barrier that Merz might face, given his broken campaign promises and the subsequent negotiations with the Left.
Schwerdtner is ready to hold negotiations with the Union, despite reservations within the Left Party about dealing with Merz. She emphasized that they will negotiate with all democratic parties, especially to reform the debt brake, if necessary.
But don't think Schwerdtner is all too warm and fuzzy towards Merz. She labeled him as the "class enemy" due to his past association with Blackrock, a multinational investment management corporation. However, she's determined to reform the debt brake, a pressing issue for municipalities and states, even if it means dealing with the "class enemy."
The morning after Merz's election, Thorsten Frei, the new Chancellor's chief of staff, expressed openness to scrapping the incompatibility resolution during an interview. The resolution, initially enacted by the CDU, bars party members from cooperating with Die Linke. Acknowledging the need for a two-thirds majority in the Chancellor's election, Frei suggested a reassessment of this question.
However, it's important to note that this new development does not necessarily indicate a significant shift in political alliances or direct negotiations between the CDU and the Left Party at this time. With the new Grand Coalition formed by the CDU, CSU, and SPD, the focus is on economic growth, defense, and geopolitical challenges[1][2]. The Left Party did not enter this coalition, and smaller parties like the FDP and Bündnis Wagenknecht failed to meet the necessary threshold to enter the Bundestag[1].
The new government's agenda is cautious when it comes to climate action[3]. The Chancellor election's outcome and potential for new negotiations between the CDU and the Left Party are worth keeping an eye on, but a clear path to resolution remains uncertain for now.
[1] https://www. Tagesspiegel.de/politik/zweite-bonn-regierung-wenn-welke-gegen-welche-konventionen-gehandelt-werden/27751998.html[2] https://www.zeit.de/politik/deutschland/2025-03/koalitionsvertrag-debt-brake-umwelt-umclear-wahlkampfpromise[3] https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/germanyn-two-parties-form-new-coalition-government/2025/04/01/c2d9fe10-0511-11eb-824b-f831422a3317_story.html[4] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/germanys-merz-wins-actions-second-ballot-become-new-chancellor-2025-04-01/
- Following the Chancellor election, Thorsten Frei, Merz's chief of staff, expressed a willingness to reconsider the CDU's incompatibility resolution, which bars cooperation with Die Linke.
- Ines Schwerdtner, leader of the Left Party, has shown a readiness to negotiate with the Union, acknowledging the potential ideological barriers presented by Merz, despite labeling him as the "class enemy."
- Schwerdtner has emphasized that the Left Party will negotiate with all democratic parties to reform the debt brake, a pressing issue for municipalities and states, if necessary.
- Despite this potential for dialogue between the CDU and the Left Party, the focus of the new Grand Coalition, consisting of the CDU, CSU, and SPD, is primarily on economic growth, defense, and geopolitical challenges, with a cautious approach to climate action.
