Former EU Commissioner Günter Verheugen, a member of the SPD, has described the early dissolution of the German government as an external policy problem for Europe. “For Europe, this event has a fundamental significance” Verheugen told the “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland” (Monday editions).
“Germany, previously known as a guardian of political stability within the European Union and its predecessors, is now losing its grip. If that changes, the whole of Europe has a problem. And internationally, the new election could hardly come at a less opportune time” Verheugen said.
He also warned of the rise of extremists: “If a government from the parties of the political center fails so spectacularly, the risk is great that the parties on the fringes will profit.”
In the face of dwindling support for the major parties, early elections will likely become the norm. “Such situations will probably become more frequent in the future” Verheugen said. “We will likely see more coalitions with at least three partners – and often one of the partners will feel like it’s at its limits. That will put the stability of our government system to the test.”
The end of the traffic light coalition by Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) was still the right decision, Verheugen said. “It was clear that the traffic light government was no longer able to act. It’s completely right to clarify the situation quickly” he said.
Verheugen described the FDP’s offer to Scholz to jointly call for new elections as “almost impudent.” “It’s a strong demand to ask a chancellor to pave the way for a coalition partner who wants to get rid of him” he said.
The former FDP general secretary was convinced that FDP leader Christian Lindner knew about the party’s internal planning paper on the Ampel breakdown: “It’s unrealistic for employees to just write a government together on a piece of paper for their own sake. This kind of thing is not written by a party headquarters without the leader knowing. And it’s written for the leader, as he is the one who has to make the decisions” Verheugen told the RND.