Berlin – Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) surprised his coalition partners on Thursday evening in the Reichstag with an announcement about the end of the combustion engine. Whether the end comes from the exhaustion of the combustion engine or not – the Union and the SPD have been debating this for weeks (same as with retirement). No deal in sight! Suddenly the head of government rushed forward and announced the solution that night. CSU leader Markus Söder (58) and SPD leader Lars Klingbeil were very surprised because they knew nothing about it.
This is how the confusion played out on the open stage: When a reporter asked Merz whether the coalition leaders would also discuss the controversial issue of retirement and the end of the combustion engine that evening and reach an agreement, the Chancellor answered emphatically: “Double yes.”
CSU officer Söder frowned. SPD boss Klingbeil looked as stunned as a meerkat. Because: According to BILD information, the party leaders actually agreed to the opposite: They wanted to discuss this topic more at dinner, but did NOT make any further decisions that evening.
Departing: Markus Söder (58, CSU, from left) with Friedrich Merz (CDU), Bärbel Bas (SPD) and Lars Klingbeil
Background: This is complicated. Regarding pensions, all party leaders – including Merz – support the agreed pension package (level pension, maternal pension, active pension). But Merz has problems with 18 retired young rebels in his group who are demanding change. Problem solved that night? Impossible!
Things get more complicated when the combustion engine is turned off. The CSU really wants to officially decide to “end the combustion engine.” The SPD is largely willing to agree, but clearly does not want to call it that. This is an important symbolic dispute for both. Problem solved that night? Actually impossible, no one wants to budge.
That’s why after Merz’s short announcement (“Twice yes”), riots immediately broke out among the party leadership employees. They shook their heads.
So the Chancellor was asked again, this time only about the agreement to end the combustion engine that night. Chancellor followed up, saying “yes again” and grinning mischievously.
Söder was upset
CSU boss Söder looked annoyed. As he walked towards the lift, he snapped: “So now it’s a deal, or what?”
The Merz neighborhood was then rowed back. It said that agreement with the coalition committee was “not necessarily expected”.
There is still a lot that needs to be clarified to the coalition, especially about cars. The Union and the SPD are not only fighting over a ban on combustion engines, they also have to agree on what the planned e-car bonus (worth 3 billion) will be.
At least the EU and the SPD could agree on a package of measures for the economy: a reduction in industrial electricity prices, cheaper airline tickets, German funds for more investment in start-ups, and new gas-fired power plants.
