PM Fiala happy with CDU/CSU victory, and other takeaways from German election
The results of the German parliamentary election held on 23 February are in, but were they surprising? The opposition CDU/CSU claimed first place and is now poised to form a coalition with the Social Democratic SPD, which recorded its worst performance since 1887. Meanwhile, the AfD secured second place, marking a historic milestone for the far-right in Germany. I spoke to political scientist and author Jiří Pehe to find out what he thinks about the results and how they might impact Czechs.
The conservative party, Christian Democratic Union (CDU/CSU), received 28.5%, Alternative for Germany (AfD), widely considered to be far-right, received 20.8%, and the Social Democrats (SDP) received 16.4%. What are your takeaways from the election?
“I think the results of the German election weren’t particularly surprising. Various opinion polls had predicted that this would be the general outcome. It’s now clear that the Conservatives will be able to form a government if they choose to with the Social Democrats because the alliance led by Sarah Wagenknecht didn’t make it into the German parliament, so it seems likely that a two-party coalition could form, which would likely be more stable than a three-party coalition that might have been necessary if Wagenknecht made her way into the parliament.”
And a lot in the EU and around the world, the globe really, have been calling for a unified Germany, a stronger Germany. So do you think that that two-party coalition is what SPD would be coerced into for having a unified Germany?
“I think that the Social Democrats will likely agree to join the Grand Coalition, as that seems to be the only way to ensure a stable government. Of course, it will depend on what positions they demand in the government. Negotiations are likely to be challenging, as they always are when forming a Grand Coalition. However, I think this will ultimately lead to a relatively stable government under the leadership of the conservatives, as they appear determined to pursue a more defined policy on Ukraine and international affairs.”
Prime Minister Petr Fiala welcomed the results, specifically the CDU winning the most votes. The Czech economy is closely intertwined with the German economy, which has not been performing well. Do you think that fiscal management by the conservatives will align with the Czech economy and help trade? Is there any potential takeaway in that regard as well?
“Everyone is hopeful that the CDU will be able to boost Germany's economic growth. However, much will depend on whether Trump imposes any tariffs on Europe, as a significant portion of the German economy relies on the automotive industry. Any tariffs would undoubtedly create more challenges for Germany's economy.
“On the other hand, I think there will now be more room for conservatives across Europe to discuss potentially easing some of the objectives of the Green Deal. This could ultimately have a positive impact on the European economy.”
