Following the summer recess, Germany’s governing coalition of the Social Democrats (SPD) and the Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) is entering a crucial period requiring significant decision-making, according to Steffen Bilger, Parliamentary Managing Director of the CDU/CSU.
In a recent interview with POLITICO’s Berlin Playbook podcast, Bilger emphasized a shared understanding among all three coalition partners – acknowledging the importance of addressing challenges and reaching effective solutions. He characterized the current phase as demanding, but underscored a collective commitment to fulfilling their governing responsibilities.
A planned meeting of CDU/CSU leadership on Monday afternoon was described by Bilger not as a crisis intervention, but as a routine consultation carried out before resuming legislative work, allowing for a comprehensive discussion of upcoming priorities.
While acknowledging inherent tensions within any coalition, Bilger stated that both the CDU/CSU and SPD have largely moved forward with implementing their agreed-upon coalition framework. He did, however, concede the existence of disagreements, specifically mentioning debates surrounding tax and social policy.
Bilger was quick to clarify that these disagreements represent substantive policy differences, rather than fundamental threats to the coalition’s stability, reiterating that they operate as a “working coalition”. He expressed expectations for constructive governance from the SPD and asserted a shared acknowledgement of the need for reform across multiple policy areas.
