The Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) won a close general election due to which the country is facing political uncertainty in the country. Moreover, the election results paved the way for dialogues to establish a new coalition government. The center-left Social Democrats lead the race with 25.7 percent of the vote. Outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative alliance stood on the second number with 24.1 percent votes – the worst ever result of the alliance.
Angela Merkel’s rival Social Democrats (SPD) have won the biggest share of votes in Germany’s national election: Reports #GermanElection2021 pic.twitter.com/z61ncmOmYg
— Asianet Newsable (@AsianetNewsEN) September 27, 2021
The two major opponents to succeed, Merkel, CDU leader Armin Laschet and SPD’s Olaf Scholz, both claimed a majority to lead the upcoming coalition government in Germany. Additionally, German leaders of political parties met on Monday to start coalition talks that could take months.
Who will become the chancellor of Germany?
Olaf Scholz – Center-left Social Democrats
Olaf Scholz, 62, is the current finance minister of Germany and also serving as deputy chancellor of Merkel. His chances of winning the chancellor seat are most prominent during the election campaign. Formerly, he served as an MP from 1998 to 2011. After his successful spell as Hamburg mayor from 2011 to 2018, when he rebalanced the financial crisis of the city, he went back to the Bundestag.
Scholz also supervised the federal government’s emergency $904 billion aid package to assist and back German workers and businesses in surviving the coronavirus pandemic. Generally, he was seen to perform efficiently during the pandemic crisis, which disturbed the businesses and finances of the country.
His party and himself are in pole positions to make the new government in Germany. With the largest vote share of 25.7 percent, SPD has the biggest mandate and chances to lead the country. Scholz said yesterday that the poll results showed people wanted a change. Further, he added that convincing his coalition partners, such as the FDP and the Greens – won’t be an easy game. Both partners have separate policy priorities that will need addressing in alliance dialogues.
Political Limbo in Germany
The recent election result leaves the country in political limbo, with prominent political parties set for a lingering gladiatorial spell that most experts don’t expect to resolve until 2022 before selecting a new chancellor. On Sunday, Armin Laschet, the CDU leader, gestured that he needed to fight hard to succeed Merkel’s seat. Laschet further added that his party would do everything to form a government. Thus, the country now needs a coalition government for the future that revolutionizes the country.
Source: Web
Merkel will remain as caretaker German chancellor until the identification of a new chancellor. That will be a challenging effort with the option of a bilateral coalition seemingly off the table. SPD and CDU insiders reduce the possibility of Scholz and Laschet establishing a governing coalition together because still, it needs some lawmakers from other parties to form a majority in the Bundestag.
Furthermore, the Greens and the SPD are a natural fit with both parties wanting to increase taxes on the wealthy and revive a wealth tax, which stopped in 1997. However, the FDP is a natural fit for the CDU and Christian Linder, its leader, who is unlikely to settle any tax rises and requires tax cuts for businesses.
