The unraveling of Germany’s “traffic light” coalition last November wasn’t a sudden collapse, but a protracted period of hope and mounting despair, according to former government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit. Speaking to RTL and ntv, Hebestreit revealed he held onto the belief that the alliance – comprised of the Social Democrats (SPD), the Greens and the Free Democratic Party (FDP) – could be salvaged until remarkably late, admitting he realized the situation was likely irreconcilable around 6:30 PM on the evening of November 6th.
Hebestreit’s account sheds light on the crucial moment surrounding the unresolved budgetary dispute that ultimately led to the government’s demise. The need to locate an additional seven billion euros exposed deep-seated ideological divergences within the three-party coalition. While various proposals were floated to bridge the funding gap, it became increasingly clear that a consensus could not be reached. The former spokesman emphasized that the inability of all partners to commit to a unified course of action signaled the coalition’s inevitable downfall.
This retrospective commentary raises critical questions about the inherent fragility of multi-party governments, particularly when faced with significant economic pressures. The events underscore the risk of ideological inflexibility and the challenges of maintaining cohesion when navigating complex financial negotiations. Critics are already arguing that Hebestreit’s testimony reinforces concerns that the “traffic light” coalition’s structure, designed to represent diverse viewpoints, ultimately proved detrimental to decisive governance and fostered an environment ripe for deadlock. The lingering question now centers on whether the subsequent political realignment has genuinely addressed the systemic issues that contributed to the previous government’s collapse.