The first weeks of the German coalition government have yielded a mixed assessment, according to a statement released by SPD General Secretary Tim Klüssendorf. While acknowledging rapid action on key initiatives, Klüssendorf also pointed to areas where progress has been hampered by a breakdown in consensus.
He specifically referenced the recent election for a judge on the Federal Constitutional Court, highlighting the “spoil left by the handling” after the opposition CDU/CSU refused to support the SPD’s candidate, Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf. Klüssendorf emphasized the need for “reliability” going forward and reaffirmed the coalition’s commitment to prior agreements on the matter.
The government has swiftly implemented several significant measures, including the infrastructure investment fund, immediate housing construction measures under the “construction accelerator” program and accelerated depreciation rules for investments. However, Klüssendorf also criticized instances where pre-existing agreements were unilaterally abandoned. He stressed the necessity of a renewed commitment to compromise in future negotiations.
Beyond the Constitutional Court election, Klüssendorf cited the postponed reduction of the electricity tax for consumers as another example where coalition coordination faltered. Despite this setback, he noted that citizens are already benefiting from significant relief through the elimination of the gas storage levy and lower network fees. These measures, he asserted, are delivering substantial financial advantages despite the delayed electricity tax cut.
