Prior to the state elections - SPD leaders in the east dissatisfied with traffic lights
With their renewed budget spat, the Traffic Light Coalition has sparked discontent among the SPD election campaigners in the East. "Has Mr. Lindner misplaced the Chancellor's phone number? Why aren't they discussing these things internally?", asked Thuringia's Interior Minister and SPD top candidate Georg Maier in the Tagesspiegel. "The constant bickering in the federal government is a significant burden for us election campaigners in the East. I urgently appeal to all those responsible in the Traffic Light coalition to put an end to this unsightly summer theater."
Saxony's Minister of Social Affairs and SPD top candidate Petra Köpping also expressed disapproval, particularly about the role of Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) in the dispute. "To be honest, Christian Lindner's constant back and forth is really annoying," Köpping told the Tagesspiegel. "It's good that Olaf Scholz has now spoken out again. If you make agreements in a coalition, you should also stick to them and not constantly reopen a can of worms for a quick headline."
Woidke: Populists benefit from unresolved problems
Brandenburg's Minister President and SPD top candidate Dietmar Woidke criticized that there is often arguing in the coalition in Berlin. "This doesn't just harm the reputation of the federal government, but it also harms our democracy in the end," he said to the Augsburger Allgemeine. "I believe that people simply expect leadership, strength, and security in this time. Populists benefit from unresolved problems, fears, and insecurities."
New state parliaments will be elected in Thuringia and Saxony on September 1st, and in Brandenburg on September 22nd.
Budget spat reignited
The dispute in the Traffic Light coalition over the 2025 federal budget has reignited in recent days. The background is three projects that were supposed to reduce the funding gap in the budget by a total of eight billion euros. Finance Minister Lindner had commissioned expert opinions due to legal and economic concerns about the plans. These opinions confirmed some of the concerns but also showed ways to implement at least two of the three measures.
The SPD, FDP, and Greens have recently tried to prevent the dispute from escalating further and struck a more conciliatory tone - after Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) intervened from his vacation. Scholz, Lindner, and Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck (Greens) will seek solutions again by mid-August.
The ongoing budget spat within the Traffic Light Coalition has led to concerns among SPD election campaigners in Brandenburg, such as Minister President Woidke, who believes that unresolved issues could benefit populist groups. Furthermore, the constant bickering among coalition members, particularly Finance Minister Lindner, is seen as a hindrance to the election campaigns in the Eastern states.
