German politicians from the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Christian Social Union in Bavaria (CSU) have called for rapid coalition talks with the Social Democratic Party (SPD) to form a new government by Easter. The CDU’s deputy leader, Andreas Jung, emphasized the need for decisive and clear decisions, stating that the challenges are immense and that time should not be lost. He added that the country needs a functional government and that the questions will not become easier with prolonged negotiations.
Jung also emphasized the need for a “coalition of the center” to address issues that have been left unaddressed in the past. He stated that there can be no more of the status quo and that a genuine change is needed in security and economic policies, particularly in light of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party’s significant election results.
The CDU’s deputy leader also expressed concerns over the erosion of trust in the democratic system, citing the AfD’s strong election performance. He stated that trust can only be regained by solving the problems and that simple solutions proposed by the AfD do not exist, often requiring compromises to be made.
Meanwhile, the CSU has claimed to be strengthened by the recent election, but has criticized the electoral reform. The party’s general secretary, Martin Huber, stated that it is remarkable that the CSU has gained more votes but fewer seats due to the electoral reform and that the “undemocratic Ampel electoral system” needs to be reformed urgently.
Huber also emphasized the need for the party to focus on the issues of migration, economy and security in order to deprive the extreme fringes of support. He stated that the CSU has gained a strong tailwind with its strong result in Bavaria and that the party and its leader, Markus Söder, will continue to make a strong contribution to the election results and the upcoming coalition talks.
The SPD’s general secretary, Matthias Miersch, has, however, made it clear that a coalition with the CDU is not a given. He stated that there will be intense negotiations and that the party will only see if there are sufficient commonalities after the talks.