The recent failure to secure the election of three judges to the Federal Constitutional Court within the Bundestag has sparked concerns within the Social Democratic Party (SPD) regarding the reliability of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its Bavarian sister party, the CSU.
Several prominent SPD figures have voiced their reservations. Thuringia’s Interior Minister and SPD state leader, Georg Maier, expressed his dismay, highlighting the apparent inability of CDU leader Friedrich Merz to command unified support within his own party. He questioned how Merz could effectively lead the nation through challenging times if he lacks consistent backing on even relatively minor decisions.
First Parliamentary Secretary of the SPD parliamentary group, Dirk Wiese, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the necessity for cohesion within the CDU/CSU parliamentary group to ensure successful cooperation in the future. The nomination of SPD candidate Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf by the CDU/CSU joint list and the prior endorsement by CDU/CSU leadership had initially signaled a collaborative approach, which ultimately faltered.
SPD parliamentarian Ralf Stegner voiced deeper anxieties about the stability of the governing coalition. He suggested the episode indicates a premature challenge to the coalition’s effectiveness. Stegner also noted the apparent triumph of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) lawmakers, whose reactions he deemed derisive and disrespectful towards the Bundestag and democratic factions.
SPD politician Sebastian Roloff issued a direct warning to the CDU/CSU, cautioning against any moves toward alignment with the AfD. He urged the CDU/CSU leadership to thwart any tendencies towards engagement with the far-right party and to avoid being drawn into debates influenced by extremist viewpoints. Referencing the late phase of the Weimar Republic, Stegner emphasized the historical danger of democratic parties courting extremist elements, a strategy he warned contributes to the decline of democracy and ultimately leads to conflict and hardship.
