“They started as a progressive coalition and ended up as a transitional coalition?” wonders “Handelsblatt”. And further: “The common ground of the coalition has been exhausted. (…) Not only in terms of content, but also in terms of interpersonal relations, nothing currently fits together, in particular the relations between Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and Minister finance Christian Lindner (FDP) is considered ruined. The only question now is whether the coalition will be able to gather the last forces to complete the agreed projects such as the development package. Or maybe the coalition will crack after the three September elections in the eastern states. (…) Question The question is, however, which constellation will be sufficient after the next elections. And whether coalition issues will soon arise. 'After the elections in the east, everything is possible,' says one member of the government. 'Even the coalition's break-up. In the light of the polls, none of the three coalition parties can be interested in ending it prematurely. However, the elections in the three states could end in such a disaster for the government coalition that its member parties will gain their own momentum.'
“Transitional coalition” in advanced state of disintegration
The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung writes: “Calling the government alliance of the SPD, the Greens and the FDP a 'transitional coalition' is a friendly euphemism for a 'ménage à trois' that is in an advanced state of disintegration. In fact things This rather modest formula of a 'transitional coalition', authored by Omid Nouripour (co-chair of the Green Party – ed.) is becoming a double program of action for the near future. Its first part will consist in maintaining the current government coalition in such a way that as few critical opinions about it as possible concern the Greens. The second part must consist in developing a good strategic position for it for the time after the Bundestag elections. In the current situation, it is unlikely that a new government will be able to be formed against the CDU/CSU union. But these two parties will need a coalition partner. Perhaps the Greens.”
“Muenchner Merkur” analyses: “The government coalition can of course currently put up a smokescreen when it comes to aid for Ukraine. Its budget sends such a clear signal that even President Steinmeier, who has been friendly to Russia for a long time, cannot ignore it. The coalition is sacrificing its credibility in foreign policy for the sake of coalition peace. Putin is delighted: at least in the German sector, things are going according to his plan. The long shadow of the elections in Saxony and Thuringia it's raining already on the battlefields of Ukraine and endangers the people who defend our freedom there as well. With its wild budget maneuvers sowing doubts about the tripartite coalition’s foreign policy compass in times of war and peace, the government expects voters to put an end to it in a year at the latest. Green Party leader Omid Nouripour is already calling the coalition, which started out as a progressive coalition, a “transitional coalition.”
“Don't scare anyone until the Bundestag elections”
Ulm's “Suedwest Presse” notes: “The government coalition is now trying, somewhat chaotically, not to scare anyone until the Bundestag elections next year. It fears that every euro it cuts out of the budget could increase public discontent. That is why it prefers to save on support for Ukraine. It is also not celebrating its successes, such as leading Germany through the energy crisis unscathed. Instead, its members are distancing themselves from it, like Green Party co-chair Omid Nouripour. They are doing this even though, for obvious (opinion poll) reasons, none of the three parties wants to risk the collapse of the coalition and early elections. In return, however, all three accept the risk of causing exactly what they once accused the Christian Democratic and Social Democratic parties of: stagnation.”
The article comes from the website German Welle