Bumps on the Road: An Unsettled New German Government
System malfunction persists; functionality remains elusive
The newly installed federal administration, backed by the opposition, has hit a few speed bumps since its inauguration. Can the coalition partners (CDU/CSU, SPD, Greens, and The Left) sustain their bond moving forward? Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt attempts to keep a positive outlook on 'Illner.'
The government took office on Tuesday, but the beginning was more rocky than anticipated. For the first time in the history of the Federal Republic, a federal chancellor was elected in a second round. The strength of Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz remains to be seen. Maybrit Illner delves into this topic with her guests on Thursday evening.
Dobrindt appears relieved, commenting, "From an unwanted situation without precedent, we demonstrated that we can work together constructively and trustfully to resolve a problem, a challenge. This demonstrates a positive sign that challenges can be overcome. I'd rather have a challenge addressed from the start than a smoothly sailing honeymoon followed by a crash later." The CSU politician is referring to the selfie trend initiated by the FDP and Greens before their last coalition, intended to display unity.
Green parliamentary group leader Katharina Dröge criticizes the rocky chancellor election, stating, "This start is under a bad omen, and this coalition seems to be on shaky ground." The parliamentary group leaders from the CDU, CSU, and SPD were tasked with listening carefully to prevent such situations from recurring.
Political scientist Julia Reuschenberg acknowledges that the coalition has experienced some setbacks. However, she emphasizes the importance of the democratic process being upheld throughout the proceedings.
A Second Look: The Left and the Incompatibility Decision
New Chancellor's Office chief Thorsten Frei suggests that the Union should reevaluate its incompatibility decision concerning the Left in light of the current political landscape. Dobrindt, however, disagrees, asserting that while the government does not have a two-thirds majority in the Bundestag and needs the Greens and The Left for certain projects, he rules out joint legislative initiatives with the AfD. The Union should not change any existing decisions, implying that the incompatibility decision still applies. Nevertheless, he mentions that discussions regarding procedural decisions with The Left may be necessary. The Union's decision to equate The Left with the far-right AfD has been met with criticism, and the need for clarification and reevaluation has been demanded.
Overtime for Migration Policy and Asylum Seekers
Federal Minister of the Interior Dobrindt has implemented significant changes in migration policy. The increased border controls will result in increased overtime for federal police officers on duty, potentially requiring them to work up to 20 additional hours per week over the next three weeks. Critics argue that this change may lead to less enforcement at train stations. Dobrindt clarifies that those seeking asylum at the border can be rejected by the police but stresses that pregnant women, children, and vulnerable groups will be exempted. He disclaims declaring a national emergency, stating he is in talks with representatives of neighboring countries.
Opposition parties criticize Dobrindt's asylum policies, accusing him of breaking European law. Dobrindt maintains, "We need to make the European situation, the system functional again. That's in our common interest."
- Alexander Dobrindt
- Alliance 90/The Greens
- The Left
- CSU
- CDU
- Migration
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- The European Parliament, the Council, and the Commission are likely to observe the challenges faced by the new German government, given its unique composition of EC countries, the European Union, and parties such as CDU/CSU, SPD, Greens, and The Left.
- As the new German government attempts to address internal challenges, political scientist Julia Reuschenberg encourages all parties to prioritize upholding democratic processes and values, emulating the European Union's principles of policy-and-legislation.
- Federal Minister Alexander Dobrindt, a key player in the CSU, has proposed revisiting the incompatibility decision related to The Left party within the context of the current political landscape, sparking debate among ec countries and political groups.
- The implementation of new migration policies by Alexander Dobrindt, whose party CDU is part of the European Union, has sparked noticeable criticism from opposition parties. These critics argue that Dobrindt's policies could potentially lead to incompatibilities with European Union laws, particularly in matters of migration and asylum seekers.
