CHANCELLOR ANGELA Merkel has dampened the reform ambitions of her new liberal Free Democrat (FDP) coalition partners, promising political continuity and a strong centrist line from her Christian Democrats (CDU) in her second term.
Hours after securing her re-election despite losing support, Dr Merkel told a press conference yesterday in Berlin to expect “more CDU in this government than the last” left-right grand coalition. “You will see me in the future as you’ve had the pleasure to get to know me in the past,” she said, as preliminary results gave her party 33.8 per cent of the poll.
“I won’t change entirely in the new coalition but I do hope to develop somewhat.”
After allowing the FDP to enjoy its record 14.6 per cent result on Sunday night, Dr Merkel took the unusual step of calling her first press conference yesterday at the same time as that of her future coalition partner, FDP leader Guido Westerwelle. For him, and for everyone who had to choose which event to attend, it was a reminder about just who will be leading Germany’s next government.
“Don’t expect to see me be some kind of conductor with a baton in her hand,” said Dr Merkel.
Under a sign reading “Die Mitte” – the centre – she said the CDU would continue to occupy the political middle ground, trying to balance economic interests with social harmony. At the same time, she said her new centre-right government presented new possibilities for tackling the fall-out of the financial crisis.
Dr Merkel’s biggest challenge in coalition negotiations is to reconcile competing political ideas over just what kind of tax cuts will encourage spending and revive the shrinking German economy, particularly in light of record borrowing of €329 billion this year. Dr Merkel’s proposal for €15 billion in moderate tax relief in the medium term is at odds with a bullish FDP’s demand for a stripped-down tax system and immediate rate cuts worth more than €35 billion, funded by debt and savings through abolished government subsidies.
“Dr Merkel is right to point out that she’s the same person she was yesterday, as am I. We’ll discuss the rest,” said Mr Westerwelle ahead of his first post-election meeting with the CDU leader yesterday afternoon. “We don’t just know each other since yesterday. Our solid personal relationship is a good basis for good politics.”
Should Mr Westerwelle prove a tough customer in coalition talks, Dr Merkel hopes for less friction on the second front of her coalition: the CDU’s Bavarian sister party, the CSU.
Party leader Horst Seehofer presided over a nearly seven-point drop in support on Sunday night. With little love lost with her Bavarian ally and rival, Dr Merkel suggested he consider his result before complicating coalition talks she hopes to wrap up by November 9th, the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.
“It’s a smart party leader who, in such a situation, takes into account how, together, we are strong in [coalition] negotiations,” she said.
CSU officials in Munich suggested yesterday that Mr Seehofer would bring “special wishes” to the Berlin talks. However, it remains to be seen whether he will revive his fiery campaign rhetoric opposing FDP plans to loosen hire-fire regulations for workers.
“Mr Seehofer has a big credibility problem because his aggressive election strategy towards the FDP went completely pear-shaped,” said Berlin political analyst Jan Techau. “It’ll be hard for him to snap at anyone in coalition negotiations without poisoning the atmosphere.”
Over in the Social Democrat (SPD) camp, party leader Franz Müntefering hinted he may stand down because of Sunday’s 11-point collapse in support to 23 per cent. “I’m aware of my responsibilities as leader,” he said, describing as “close to the truth” rumours he faced internal resignation calls.
Speculation is growing that he might hand the leadership to Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the outgoing foreign minister and defeated SPD candidate. Considering both men were allies of Gerhard Schröder, such a move is unlikely to placate the party’s left wing.
Leading left-winger Andrea Nahles called for a swift resolution of the crisis: “What we don’t need now is that the party falls apart.”