The recent, last-minute postponement of judicial elections has not fundamentally damaged the governing coalition of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Social Democratic Party (SPD), according to CDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann.
While acknowledging that internal communication, similar to the recent compromise reached regarding energy taxes, “was not well handled” Linnemann expressed a desire to learn from these initial difficulties. He stated that the parties intend to work “behind the scenes and with calm” to achieve broader consensus on future solutions. “It helps none of us to point fingers” he said in an interview with the Tagesspiegel.
Linnemann refrained from detailing any potential new agreement but expressed confidence, stating, “We’ll manage this.
Regarding the rejection of the previously nominated SPD candidate, Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf, Linnemann cited “numerous serious objections” arising from various sectors including religious institutions, legal professionals and medical ethicists. He dismissed accusations that the CDU’s decision was influenced by extremist factions, stating, “I categorically reject the myth that we were influenced by extremists.
Linnemann sharply criticized accusations, notably raised by former Green Party leader Ricarda Lang, suggesting that CDU parliamentary group leader Jens Spahn deliberately sought to collapse the black-and-red coalition to pave the way for collaboration with the Alternative for Germany (AfD). “That’s a perfidious accusation and I am quite certain that Ms. Lang knows that” he commented. He emphasized, “Anyone responsible in the CDU knows that the AfD wants to destroy us”. Parliamentary group leader Spahn has repeatedly reaffirmed this perspective and the CDU’s established position, adding that he is “working day and night for the success of this coalition”.