BERLIN — Germany’s incoming coalition is off to a rocky start, and it hasn’t even taken office yet.
The Bundestag’s conservative Christian Democratic bloc (CDU/CSU) and center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) finalized a coalition deal six days ago. But the new alliance is already plagued by confusion and conflict over whether the policies they agreed on are hard commitments or budget-dependent.
“We make no promises we cannot keep,” Chancellor-designate Friedrich Merz of the CDU said in an interview with German broadcaster ARD, referring to the SPD’s flagship promise of income tax relief for low and middle earners.
While the coalition agreement includes such a measure, Merz stressed that all commitments are conditional on the funding available, referring to a clause in the 144-page coalition agreement stating that every policy — from tax relief to infrastructure spending — must be financially viable before it can be implemented.
That is stirring confusion within his potential junior partner.
SPD co-leader Saskia Esken responded that the tax cut was “a clear agreement,” arguing that “workers and the economy” need a signal of confidence. “It is firmly stated in the coalition contract,” she told Rheinische Post.
Foreign policy is also fracturing along party lines. In his TV interview, Merz reiterated support for sending long-range Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine, in coordination with European partners.
But acting Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, a senior SPD figure who is likely to retain his role, responded bluntly. “I never said I was in favor of that,” he told an SPD event in Hannover on Monday. He warned there were “many good arguments” against the delivery, and cast doubt on the feasibility of European alignment.
Meanwhile, the SPD is divided internally. The party’s youth wing, Jusos — representing around 12 percent of members — has come out forcefully against the agreement, particularly objecting to its strict migration measures. Jusos leader Philipp Türmer called the agreement a “ticking time bomb” and said: “Our vote is rejection. For Jusos to support it, significant improvements would be necessary.”
That’s a call for renegotiation — a demand that SPD leadership has flatly rejected. “There will be no second round,” party chair Lars Klingbeil said. “If this fails, there will be new elections or a minority government.”
Roughly 358,000 SPD members are eligible to vote on the coalition deal until April 29. If it is approved, a Bundestag vote to make Merz chancellor will likely be held on May 6.
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