German governing coalition

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Breakdown of seats in the 20th Bundestag, elected in the 2021 German federal elections. From left to right, the parties are:
  The Left
  SPD
  Greens
  SSW
  FDP
  CDU/CSU
  AfD
  Independents
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In Germany's federal electoral system, a single party or parliamentary group rarely wins an absolute majority of seats in the Bundestag, and thus coalition governments, rather than single-party governments, are the usually expected outcome of a German election.[1] As German political parties are often associated with particular colors, coalitions are frequently given nicknames based on the colors included.[2][3] Prominent political parties in Germany are the CDU/CSU (black), the SPD (red), the Greens (green), the Left (red, or alternatively magenta to distinguish from the SPD), the AfD (blue), and the FDP (yellow).[4]

History

Since the founding of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1949, the country has traditionally used proportional representation both at the federal level and in the states. Because a multi-party system has emerged with two major parties (CDU/CSU and SPD) and a number of smaller parties that are nevertheless frequently represented in parliaments (Alliance 90/The Greens, FDP, The Left, AfD), single-party governments with absolute majorities are quite rare.

At the federal level, a single-party government has occurred only once so far: Between 1957 and 1961, the CDU/CSU held an absolute majority in the Bundestag and was able to govern alone (cabinet Adenauer III); even then, the minor German Party was included in the government for the first three years of its existence, and the government was not a fully single-faction cabinet until those ministers joined the CDU in July 1960. In the states, too, single-party governments have been quite rare, with the exception of the Free State of Bavaria, where the CSU has many times been able to achieve absolute majorities in state elections. As of January 2024, only one of 16 German states, Saarland, has a single-party government, consisting solely of the SPD.

There are two two-party coalitions usually preferred for reasons of ideological proximity; the center-right black/yellow coalition (CDU/CSU and FDP) and the center-left red/green coalition (SPD and Alliance 90/The Greens). A third type of two-party-coalition, which occurs especially after inconclusive election results, is the grand coalition of the two larger parties CDU/CSU and SPD. Such coalitions are rare due to the ideological difference between the two, but have become more common in the 21st century, with three of Angela Merkel's four governments being grand coalitions. Parties frequently make statements ahead of elections about which coalitions they categorically reject.

In Germany, coalitions rarely consist of more than two parties (CDU and CSU, two allies which on federal level always form the

Left and Greens. As of 2017, the Greens have joined governments on the state level in ten coalitions in seven various combinations.[5]

The state of Schleswig-Holstein is home to a Danish minority, who have their own ethnic party called the South Schleswig Voters' Association (SSW). In state politics, a coalition between the SPD, Greens, and SSW, is called the Danish traffic light (de), or Gambia coalition because these parties' colors (including the SSW's dark blue) match the flag of the Gambia. Such a coalition was in power between 2012 and 2017, led by minister president Torsten Albig, and with SSW leader Anke Spoorendonk serving as justice minister.

In December 2021, following the September German general elections, a traffic light coalition (SPD, FDP, and Greens) led by Olaf Scholz took power in Germany, the first time a three-party coalition had formed at the federal level.[6]

Übergroß coalitions

Übergroß coalitions (über + groß meaning extra large) are coalitions that include more parties than mathematically necessary for a majority. However, generally the parties are reluctant to join coalitions where they are not mathematically needed towards a majority. Übergroß coalitions are usually formed in times of crisis, or when the coalition parties deem it necessary for other reasons.

Such a coalition may be assembled when a

GB/BHE; and the aforementioned Adenauer III). At the state level, the last time until 2021 that such a coalition was formed was in Hamburg
following the 1970 elections, where the SPD alone held a 10-seat majority, but still chose to go into coalition with the FDP.

Alternatively, an übergroß coalition may be created to avoid problems stemming from an undisciplined parliamentary groups, where too narrow a majority carries a strong risk of failure. For example, in Saxony-Anhalt following the 2021 state election, a grand coalition would have held a one-seat majority, but Minister President Reiner Haseloff (CDU) also chose to include the FDP and form a Germany coalition. When the Landtag met to elect a minister president, he unexpectedly failed to get elected on the first ballot, falling just one vote short, which was attributed to right-wing dissent within his party. On the second ballot, he was elected.[7]

Possible combinations

Possible coalitions include:

Due to the

20th Bundestag elected in 2021, but was not seriously discussed publicly by either media or politicians. Such a coalition does not have a common nickname, but the term "Bahamas coalition", in reference to the colors of the flag of the Bahamas (including the AfD's light blue), was coined in 2013.[8][9] Other coalitions involving the AfD are considered even more unlikely due to lack of parliamentary majority, ideological differences and the cordon sanitaire.[citation needed
]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Factbox: German "traffic light" coalition seen as most likely". Reuters. 2021-09-27. Archived from the original on 2021-09-28. Retrieved 2021-09-28.
  2. ^ Gehrke, Laurenz (2021-09-27). "What are the coalition options after Germany's election?". POLITICO. Archived from the original on 2021-09-27. Retrieved 2021-09-28.
  3. ISSN 0013-0613. Archived
    from the original on 2021-09-28. Retrieved 2021-09-28.
  4. ISSN 0013-0613. Archived
    from the original on 2021-09-28. Retrieved 2021-09-28.
  5. ^ Jungjohann, Arne (2017). German Greens in Coalition Governments. A Political Analysis (PDF). Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union and Green European Foundation. p. 19. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-08-28. Retrieved 2021-09-28.
  6. ^ Hauptmeier, Carsten (2021-11-25). "First ever three-party alliance". deutschland.de. Archived from the original on 2022-01-24. Retrieved 2022-01-24.
  7. ^ "Haseloff als Ministerpräsident von Sachsen-Anhalt wiedergewählt | MDR.DE". www.mdr.de (in German). Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  8. ^ "Bundestagswahl: Das Gespenst einer Bahamas-Koalition geht um". Die Welt. 8 September 2013. Archived from the original on 8 December 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  9. ^ ""Bahamas-Koalition": Opposition wittert Bündnis zwischen Union und AfD". Die Welt. 11 September 2013. Archived from the original on 8 December 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
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