Parts of the CDU lurk on a end of the Era of Merkel

The coalition was hardly formed, because it was in the summer of 2018 before the abyss. The former CSU leader Horst Seehofer picked a apocalyptic battle with the CDU leader and Chancellor Angela Merkel power. In the case concerned a Detail of the migration policy, symbolic all-or-nothing. At the last Moment, the two parties to a deflected, but the damage had already been done: The young government – and especially the Union – have not recovered until today, of the dispute.

Now it seems to repeat the story. This time it is not about refugees, but about pensions, not CDU and CSU to disassemble, but the CDU and the SPD . But again rocked to the conflict such that not only the thing, but the existence of government is at stake.

dispute need

For the social Democrats is the so-called basic pension is a matter of the heart. In 2013, the SPD has failed for the first Time at the CDU, for the past nine months to negotiate Again. The basic pension is intended to allow people who have worked for a lifetime, but little deserves, at the age a higher pension than if they hadn't never worked. It was a question of "respect", says the SPD, and called their desire, that's why "respect-pension". Especially women, especially in the East, would benefit from such a basic pension.

In principle, the Union is the pension agreement, so it is also in the coalition agreement. However, it says that it should only be available for those who really need them. The so-called means test, the dispute now revolves: The SPD wants to tilt, the CDU insists. The SPD wants to distribute 5 to 7 billion euros a year to three million pensioners, the CDU, at most, a tenth of it.

Until last Sunday, it looked as if the two parties have found a compromise, Essentially. Instead of an examination of the assets, which would be very expensive, should only be carried out an examination of the income, admitted to the CDU. The SPD was, in turn, agree that only about 1.5 million pensioners receive the "respect-pension", with a cost of 1.8 billion in the year.

especially on the Basis of popular Friedrich Merz is working on a premature end to the Era of Merkel.

But instead of agreeing, hardened the fronts on once again. Within two days the fights rocked to a supposed fate of the question. The SPD, which must decide in December on the party anyway, on the continuation of the coalition, announced that it will come without the basic pension to the break. What was new was that parts of the CDU decide realize that you put it accurately.

Many Liberals and Conservatives in the party, business representatives and Young, but especially at the base of the popular Friedrich Merz work, obviously, a premature end to the Era of Merkel. The rebels have realized that the basic pension represents a possible fracture. The relentless they occur in the negotiations, the more difficult it is for the weakened Chancellor and the weaker party boss Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer , of the SPD to make concessions – and the more likely it is to breakage.

Merz, the Kramp-Karrenbauer, a year ago, in the struggle for the presidency just under place was, and is, with Merkel still old accounts open, sees a Chance for revenge. A week ago, he gave Merkel the blame for the election record of the last few months, called the government's "bad", the Chancellor "idle" and "in disarray," and warned that it could go any further than that. Since then, many in the CDU trust at once, to say in other words, the same thing.

Merkel is to blame for everything

The maneuverability of the Chancellor, with the SPD anyway, the reason for the demise of the former people's party, sounds from conservative corners. No, you certainly should not make further compromises, in retirement or elsewhere to the depleted Merkel to buy two more years of time. An end with horror was all because better than a horror without end. With a view to possible early elections, the open guide could then, finally, and the question of power in the party to clarify – without Merkel, and arguably also without the Kramp-Karrenbauer.

Showdown in Leipzig

First of all, it is, of course, to the basic pension: The last negotiation meeting was postponed at the request of the CDU, now the coalition on Sunday to find a solution.

Markus Söder, the Bavarian Prime Minister and head of the CSU said already: the basic pension, this coalition should not be allowed to fail. And anyway, what was the CDU, which was determined to Rule absolutely? Germany need in times of uncertainty urgently for a strong, stable and viable government, and not party bickering.

In two weeks, the CDU will meet in Leipzig to the Congress, whether with or without a solution for the basic pension, weiss currently no one. Merz has already announced to hold a programme of speech and to call for a political change. He rejoices because, and this is likely to weaken Merkel and Kramp-Karrenbauer more.

the head of The CSU group in the Bundestag, Alexander Dobrindt, has warned: "If you put the coalition into question, you have to give the answer how to do it then." So, as you know the old sniper, Friedrich Merz, has he himself already made his thoughts.

Created: 05.11.2019, 20:05 Uhr