Recently, opposition leader Friedrich Merz emphasized that the Greens would be considered for a joint coalition after the federal elections, but the CDU leader’s stance has now changed. It has been a difficult time for the German Social Democrats, as they suffered a historic defeat in the European elections. General Secretary Kevin Kühnert made controversial statements blaming the result on the coalition with the FDP and the Greens. The party presidium is set to meet for an emergency meeting on Sunday.
However, there may be some hope for the SPD leadership, as CDU leader Friedrich Merz has extended an offer to the Social Democrats to participate in making necessary decisions together. He urged the SPD not to resort to personal attacks on political opponents in the upcoming federal election campaign. This offer stands as a potential opportunity for cooperation between the two parties.
This offer from Merz is significant, especially considering his previous openness to a coalition with the Greens just a few months ago. While there is skepticism within the Union parties and their supporters about a black-green coalition, a significant majority of CDU and CSU supporters prefer a black-red coalition. However, there have been few voices within the SPD advocating for this option.
The shift in communication from the Union may be strategic, as the Secretary General of the CSU expressed doubts about a black-green coalition and emphasized the challenges of governing with the Greens. The international decline in green politics could also be influencing these considerations.
As the SPD and the Greens face challenges in the aftermath of the European elections, the political landscape in Germany is evolving. The future coalition possibilities and dynamics will likely become clearer as the parties navigate the post-election scenario.