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Negotiations between German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives, the free-market liberal FDP and the Greens to form a so-called Jamaica governing coalition are continuing – so far without agreement. The BBC’s Jenny Hill says failure to reach a deal could herald the end of Mrs Merkel’s leadership.

The German newspapers call it “political party poker” – and for Angela Merkel the stakes could not be higher.

She is weakened after her party’s poor showing in September’s general election.

Her only chance now of forming a government is an unprecedented alliance between three very different political groupings.

At 04:00 on Friday – after 15 hours of talks – Mrs Merkel admitted there was still no agreement between her Christian Democratic Union (CDU – itself riven by infighting), the Green party and the Free Democrats (FDP).

The parties remain deeply divided over tax, asylum and environmental policies.

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The most bitter arguments have been over whether Syrian refugees should be allowed to bring family members to join them in Germany. Mrs Merkel’s conservatives – mindful of the electoral success of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), whose anti-immigrant rhetoric won it seats in the Bundestag for the first time – are cautious and want to extend a moratorium on so-called family reunions.

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But the Greens insist that asylum seekers integrate faster if their relatives are with them, and want a more relaxed approach.

Similar ideological divisions have also thus far prevented an agreement over the future of Germany’s energy industry. The FDP is wary of pledges to significantly reduce power from coal, which puts them wildly at odds with the Greens’ environmental priorities.

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Of course much of what is happening now, the last-minute drama, is theatre. The parties must demonstrate to their support bases that they won’t willingly sacrifice their principles for a shot at power.

But every one of the negotiators who stumbled, bleary-eyed, out of the latest marathon talks knows that, if they fail now, Germany will probably have to hold a fresh election.

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More than anyone else perhaps, Mrs Merkel is keenly aware of what that might mean. Current opinion polls suggest that her conservatives might come off even worse next time round.

There’s a good chance that her party – already casting about for a successor – might not allow Mrs Merkel to lead them into such a campaign. The chancellor, who has built a reputation worldwide for her ability to negotiate compromises, must now forge the deal of her political life.

 

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Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-42025071

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Polls show Mrs Merkel is well on course to finish top of the polls but will have to negotiate a coalition with at least one other party.

Her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party had been in a grand coalition with the centre-left Social Democratic Party (SDP) but they are not keen on recreating the arrangement.

That could leave Mrs Merkel scratching around for support in the hope of forming a “Jamaica coalition” with the Free Democratic Party (FDP) and the Greens.

But there has been hostility between the two potential coalition partners in recent days with the Greens accusing their pro-business rivals of being an “anti-party” that stands against all they hold dear.

Chief of the Greens, Cem Özdemir said recently: “The FDP is an anti-party — they’re anti-climate protection, against more tenants’ rights and social housing, anti-solidarity in Europe.

“I don’t see how we should come together with the FDP.”

They accuse the party’s leader Christian Lindner of populism, seeking the wrong solutions to environmental issues and being too hard line on refugees.

And Mr Özdemir’s Green co-candidate has also ramped up doubts about the potential coalition, saying: “I cannot imagine Jamaica.

“I cannot see how it would work at the national level.”

According to the latest polls, the CDU leads the race with 36 per cent, with the FDP on 10 per cent and the Greens on eight.

Despite the turmoil, the Greens have indicated they would be willing to work with Mrs Merkel, despite rejecting forming a coalition at the last election.

They have also insisted the Greens are “willing to negotiate with all parties except the Alternative for Germany (AfD)”.

The right-wing AfD has gained a surge in support that could well put it in third place behind the CDU and the SPD.

Mrs Merkel now faces the prospect of lengthy negotiations with both parties after the election in a bid to reach a compromise and form a coalition.

However, Mr Linder has also been quoted as saying he does not believe in a Jamaica coalition anymore.

A further obstacle could be caused by the FDP’s demands to get the finance ministry in exchange for joining a coalition.

It would also rule out support if Mrs Merkel supported French plans to deepen fiscal integration in the euro zone.

Current Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble, of the CDU, has held the post since 2009 and is the most high-profile member of Mrs Merkel’s cabinet.

But Alexander Hahn, a member of the party’s executive, demanded the ministry should go to someone from his party.

He told the Bild: ”The FDP should enter no government in which it cannot name a finance minister.

On Sunday, Mr Lindner said setting the agenda for Europe was the most important issue for his party in any coalition talks with the conservatives after the September 24 vote.

He told the Welt am Sonntag newspaper: “I fear that Ms Merkel has already agreed to new funding mechanisms (for the EU) with Macron.

“Everything that goes in the direction of financial transfer on the European level, be it a euro zone budget or a banking union, is a red line for us”.

Source: http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/855585/German-election-Angela-Merkel-CDU-Cem-Ozdemir-Christian-Lindner

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