Up Hill Begins for Germany's New Power Brokers: "Tumultuous Start for the New Government"
"Trouble looms from the outset"
The federal government has commenced its tenure on a challenging note, with the opposition's involvement crucial in electing the Chancellor. Can the coalition partners depend on each other in the future? Federal Minister of the Interior Dobrindt remains optimistic, expressing positive sentiment after joining forces with the Greens and the Left.
Managing a bumpy start unprecedented in the history of the Federal Republic, Germany's newly-elected Chancellor Friedrich Merz now faces the test of strength and cohesion within the coalition. This topic is discussed on a prevalent talk show, with Maybrit Illner hosting the conversation.
Dobrindt, the CSU politician and Federal Minister of the Interior, appears to be in good spirits. "From a precarious situation we didn't request, didn't desire, and which was unexpected, we've shown that we can collaborate constructively and trustfully to address a problem, a challenge, in partnership with the Greens and the Left," he states. He emphasizes the intensity of this achievement, stating it was not easy for him to reach this point. "This is a promising sign that challenges can be overcome. I would rather have a challenge tackled at the start than a honeymoon at the outset, followed by a crash later," Dobrindt says, referencing the selfies between the FDP and the Greens prior to the previous coalition, as a stark reminder of snapped loyalty and partnership.
Green parliamentary group leader Katharina Dröge voices her reservations regarding the turbulent chancellor election. In her opinion, there is a lack of trust not just towards Friedrich Merz, but towards the entire coalition. "This beginnings is under a bad omen, and this governing coalition is initially on shaky legs," she says, emphasizing the need for the coalition partners to address this issue and stabilize their cooperative efforts.
Political scientist Julia Reuschenberg expresses that the coalition has sustained some battle scars, but ultimately maintained a democratic approach throughout the process.
A Hesitant Union on Coalition with the Left
New Chancellor's Office Chief Thorsten Frei has proposed reconsidering the Union's stance on the incompatibility decision regarding the Left due to the current political climate. However, Dobrindt opposes this viewpoint. The government, which lacks a two-thirds majority in the Bundestag, requires the aid of the Greens and the Left for certain ventures, but Dobrindt rules out collaborative legislative projects with the far-right extremist AfD. For "procedural decisions," negotiations with the Left are necessary, but no adjustments will be made to decisions already reached. The Union must stick to its incompatibility decision, potentially sparking the first disagreement within the new coalition according to Melanie Amann, a journalist from Der Spiegel. She criticizes the Union for equating the Left with the right-wing extremist AfD, as the Union's incompatibility decision applies to both parties equally.
Green parliamentary group leader Droge demands that the Union clarifies its handling of the AfD. She distinguishes between two factions within the Union, with Jens Spahn leaning towards the AfD. In response, Dobrindt rejects these accusations against Spahn, claiming the matter regarding the AfD's Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution assessment remains undecided.
Overtime for Border Controls and Controversial Rejections
In the realm of migration policy, the new Federal Minister of the Interior, Dobrindt, has already taken decisive action. As border controls are being reinforced, Federal Police officers on the ground can expect a considerable increase in overtime—up to 20 extra hours per week in the next three weeks. However, critics argue that this development will result in less protection for train stations. Another contentious decision that Dobrindt announces during the broadcast: Asylum seekers applying at the border can now be rejected by the police. Dobrindt clarifies that rejection is optional, not mandatory. Exceptions include pregnant women, children, and "vulnerable groups." Dobrindt refuses to declare a national emergency, instead engaging in dialogue with representatives from neighboring countries, sparking criticism from the opposition.
Dröge contends that Merz has not effectively addressed European policy and that the country's current challenges could be addressed better if Merz provided stronger leadership in EU matters. Amann, a journalist from Spiegel, describes recent events as chaos, noting inconsistencies between statements by Merz abroad and Dobrindt domestically. The government spokesman's statements have also reportedly caused confusion.
Dröge goes a step further, accusing Dobrindt of violating European law by rejecting asylum seekers at the border. "What we're doing is quite clear," says Dobrindt. "It's about being able to reject people who claim asylum because they are entering Germany from a safe third country. They have already traveled one country too far. They are not being persecuted in our neighboring countries," he explains, reiterating the need for resolving the European asylum situation to serve the common interest.
- The European Parliament, the Council, and the Commission are closely monitoring the new coalition government in EC countries, particularly Germany, following the tumultuous start of Germany's new Chancellor, Friedrich Merz.
- CSU politician and Federal Minister of the Interior, Dobrindt, has expressed optimism about the coalition with the Greens and the Left, stating that despite an unprecedented challenging start, they have shown the ability to work collaboratively to solve problems.
- Green parliamentary group leader Katharina Dröge has expressed reservations about the coalition, particularly the chancellor election, stating that there is a lack of trust, not just towards Friedrich Merz, but towards the entire coalition, leading to a shaky start.
- In the migration policy, Dobrindt's decisions, such as increasing border controls and allowing police to reject asylum seekers at the border, are being criticized by the opposition and some EU members for potential violation of European law and inadequate European policy leadership.
