A leading figure within Germany’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) has cautioned the governing center-right Union bloc against actions that could destabilize their coalition government. Ralf Stegner, a member of the Bundestag, warned in comments published Friday that a segment within the Union parliamentary group appears willing to leverage the combined majority of the CDU/CSU and the far-right AfD as a means of exerting pressure. Stegner indicated this behavior, if unchecked, could jeopardize both the coalition and the chancellorship of Friedrich Merz.
While acknowledging the SPD currently faces unfavorable polling numbers, Stegner emphasized the party would not passively accept unfavorable outcomes, referencing a previous contentious situation involving a legislative dispute.
Stegner anticipates a challenging autumn for the coalition, particularly regarding substantive policy debates. He stressed successful social reforms necessitate both solid content and effective communication, stating the SPD cannot afford a repeat of the controversial Hartz IV welfare reforms implemented two decades ago. He called for strong leadership from both the Chancellor and party leader, Friedrich Merz and the parliamentary group leader, Jens Spahn.
Legally, a collapse of the coalition would not automatically trigger the end of Merz’s chancellorship. The German Basic Law does not mandate a vote of confidence in such a scenario. While the government could theoretically remain in power, it would become increasingly reliant on securing support from the AfD, the SPD, or a combination of the Greens and the Left party to pass legislation and approve the federal budget.
