Following the approval of the SPD members for the black-red coalition agreement, the party’s left-wing faction has warned the designated Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) of an independent course. According to SPD member of the executive board, Sebastian Roloff, speaking to the “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland” (Thursday editions), “the clear result is a confirmation of the coalition agreement, but given the poor alternatives, it is not surprising.”

Roloff pointed out that there is some skepticism among the members. “Given the mood at the grassroots level, it is primarily a vote of confidence with a view to the expected implementation of the coalition agreement, but by no means a blank check for Merz” he stated.