Merz wants to replace the traffic light government as quickly as possible

Due to budget dispute - Merz wants to replace the traffic light government as quickly as possible

CDU leader Friedrich Merz is calling for a swift transition to a CDU/CSU-led government in light of the budget dispute between the traffic light coalition. He and CSU leader Markus Söder are "in agreement that we want to replace this government as quickly as possible", the leader of the largest opposition parliamentary group in the Bundestag told the German Press Agency in Berlin. If the coalition fails, an early Bundestag election on June 9, the same day as the European elections, could be considered.

However, the path to an early election is complicated: Among other things, Chancellor Olaf Scholz(SPD) would have to face a vote of confidence in parliament and lose. This is currently not foreseeable.

With simultaneous federal and European elections, the election to the European Parliament could also be strengthened by a high turnout, said Merz. European elections in Germany are regarded as think-tank elections. There are fears that the AfD could do particularly well in 2024. Some hope that a high voter turnout could prevent this.

Merz replied to the question of whether the CDU could even organize a federal election campaign by June: "That would be challenging." However, because of the European elections, he is already setting up the party headquarters in such a way that the CDU is in a position to contest this nationwide election. The Adenauerhaus would then be expanded so that the election campaign for the Bundestag could be run in parallel.

Merz skeptical about new coalition with the SPD

Merz was skeptical about Söder 's proposal for a new grand coalition. The question was "in any case: Is that even mathematically enough for a coalition with an SPD that continues to marginalize itself," said Merz. "And quite frankly: It doesn't have my greatest sympathy." He added: "The SPD is now at 14 percent. You can no longer form a grand coalition with a party like that." At the same time, Merz emphasized: "We are certainly not going into the election with a coalition statement." The CDU/CSU is currently polling between 31 and 34 percent.

At the end of November, Bavaria's Minister President Söder brought up the possibility of a new election on June 9, 2024, the same day as the European elections, in light of the budget crisis facing the coalition government. At the same time, he rejected a government with the Greens and called a new edition of the grand coalition a conceivable option.

Merz: exemplary approach after Hesse election

The CDU leader now stated the Union's strategic goal: "After the next federal election, we must be strong enough to have at least two options as to who we can then form a government with." He cited the Hesse election at the beginning of October as an example. With 34.6 percent, the CDU had achieved a result "that would also be a good election result for us at federal level". Minister President Boris Rhein had two alternatives, held intensive talks with the SPD and the Greens and opted for coalition negotiations with the SPD. "I would like to see a similar situation for us as the CDU/CSU in the federal election, regardless of when it takes place."

How does the CDU leader feel about the Greens?

Asked whether he has a preference for the Greens in view of his ongoing harsh criticism of Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and the Social Democrats, Merz replied: "At the moment, there is a certain preference from a human and emotional point of view. But in terms of substance, the differences are still very, very great," he added. "If the Greens stick to this denial of reality, this loss of reality, then it will be very, very difficult." However, the issue would have to be assessed after the election.

In his home state of North Rhine-Westphalia, the CDU is in government with the Greens, Merz recalled, adding: "The moment it comes to co-governing, the Greens and Social Democrats become very flexible, very agile, very adaptable." With regard to the CDU/CSU's former favorite partner, the FDP, Merz said that with poll results of four to five percent, the party's existence was "once again under serious threat. I regret this, but I can also understand it from the perspective of the party's voters."

"FDP must make a decision"

The way the FDP is co-governing in the traffic light system - "government and opposition at the same time" - is "not rewarded in the long term. That is not possible. The FDP has to make a decision." If the FDP decides to remain in the coalition, this is likely to reinforce its downward trend, said Merz. "I would like it to be different, but at the moment I don't see it as a realistic option in mathematical terms," he said against the backdrop of previous black-yellow cooperation.