Germany Faces Long Wait For New Government After Vote

AFP/APP

Berlin: Germany is facing a prolonged period of political uncertainty following the upcoming election in February. After the vote, it seems like it could take months to form a new government, with coalition talks expected to be complex and lengthy.

The main issue is the need for parties to come together to form a majority, which could lead to political paralysis in the interim.

With the conservative CDU-CSU opposition leading in the polls, Friedrich Merz, the leader of the CDU, may have several options for forming a coalition.

One possibility is a “grand coalition” with the Social Democrats (SPD), though it’s unlikely that current Chancellor Olaf Scholz would personally be involved. Another option could be a coalition with the Greens, though this faces opposition within Merz’s own party.

All of this is happening against the backdrop of pressing issues, including Germany’s struggling economy, the ongoing Ukraine war, and shifting dynamics in global politics, such as Donald Trump’s return to the White House. It seems like the political future of Germany is on hold for now.