German political parties to negotiate coalition
Today, representatives of Germany’s Social Democratic Party (SPD), Free Democratic Party (FDP) and Alliance 90/the Greens are expected to present policy recommendations for a federal coalition agreement.
The alliance of these three parties would represent the first such tripartite coalition at the federal level since the 1950s. Talks have emphasized a narrative of modernization, with initiatives including investing around $57.9 billion a year to raise public investments surrounding climate and social services.
The coalition’s formation, which is necessary for the German parliament to fulfill its legislative role, suggests a likely shift toward progressive policy in Germany. The liberal shift in German policy comes as a result of the SPD’s performance in the September federal election.
Representatives for the coalition leaders will likely focus on increasing the minimum wage in their report today. The proposed 25% increase in wages marks a shift from previously neo-liberal policy in past decades.
The three parties being aligned in their views is promising in the medium-term for avoiding stalemates over proposed initiatives. Expect some of these long-term initiatives to be fulfilled because of the attitude of alignment and collaboration that has been shown leading up to the formal coalition agreement.
Wake up smarter with an assessment of the stories that will make headlines in the next 24 hours. Download The Daily Brief.
