One must strive to strengthen our unity within the alliance
Germany's Black-Red Coalition Faces Internal Tensions
In the first 100 days of the black-red federal government, led by the CDU and SPD, the coalition has experienced turbulence and internal discord. This was evident in the comments made by Jens Spahn, the leader of the Union faction and a member of the CDU, who emphasised the need for greater cohesion within the coalition.
Spahn, in an interview with the German editorial network, highlighted the responsibility of the black-red coalition and distinguished it from the AfD. He stated that the coalition must find a meaning in what can and must be done together, and set "political restraint" against the radical destruction strategy of the AfD.
The current state of unity within the coalition has been strained, with noticeable difficulties in cooperation and communication, particularly from the SPD side. SPD leader Barbara Bas described her trust in Spahn as "shaken." Despite this, Bas sees a need for further talks with the Union.
One of the key issues that has caused tension is the failed election of new constitutional judges in the Bundestag. The chairman of the Union faction, Jens Spahn, has drawn criticism from the SPD over this matter.
In a bid to rebuild cohesion, Spahn called on the coalition partners to improve their unity. He also emphasised the commitment of the black-red coalition to success for the good of the country.
The black-red federal government started 100 days ago, replacing the previous government. However, the coalition collapsed in 2024, leading to early federal elections in February 2025. This collapse was triggered by the government losing its majority and the Chancellor deliberately losing a confidence motion to enable new elections.
Post-election, the CDU/CSU emerged as the largest group but with a reduced vote share compared to past elections, while opposition parties gained ground. The new government has made infrastructure and climate transformation key policy areas, committing to a large Infrastructure Special Fund of €500 billion to support federal states, municipalities, and climate projects.
Despite these challenges, Spahn remains optimistic about the future of the black-red coalition. He also believes that the coalition must tolerate certain things and define what is not tolerable. This indicates a willingness to navigate the internal tensions and find a way forward for the good of the country.
In conclusion, the black-red government has been marked by internal discord and a loss of majority leading to early elections. Since then, calls from coalition leaders emphasize the need to rebuild cohesion, but the coalition remains fragile and its unity challenged by political and policy pressures.
In the midst of these internal tensions, the black-red coalition is called upon to reevaluate their policy-and-legislation, specifically addressing the failed election of new constitutional judges in the Bundestag, to improve unity and cooperation. Politics played a significant role in the collapse of the black-red federal government, but it is now essential for the current coalition to navigate through general-news topics such as infrastructure and climate transformation, while defining their tolerable and intolerable boundaries for the country's best interest.
