Doubts about the longevity of the CDU/CSU coalition are causing significant friction within the governing parties. The catalyst for this internal rift was the remarks made by CDU parliamentarian Christian von Stetten, who suggested the alliance would end prematurely, declaring that the coalition would not survive for “four years”.
Dennis Radtke, head of the CDU’s labor wing, strongly dismissed these doubts. In an interview with the “Handelsblatt”, he criticized the attitude as “showy conservatism that plays with muscles and talks about a minority government” stating that it was unhelpful. Radtke argued that the general public is heavily burdened by ongoing crises, and what is needed is empathetic and calm communication, rather than escalating rhetoric. He warned that those spreading apocalyptic theories failed to understand the gravity of the current situation, asserting that the coming months would determine the future of German democracy.
Opposition from the Social Democratic Party (SPD) was equally directed at the situation. Bundestag member Sebastian Roloff, speaking to the same publication, noted that it was counterproductive when individual deputies attempted to gain attention through unnecessary comments. Furthermore, SPD foreign policy specialist Ralf Stegner stressed that despite various problems, there is no democratic alternative to the existing coalition. Stegner warned that considering other scenarios-such as a minority government, early elections, or collaboration between the CDU and the AfD-would only strengthen the influence of the partially far-right party and would be unacceptable.