Merz tries to save coalition amid rising influence of far-right in Germany

Seeking compromise to stabilise power

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is actively working to preserve the current governing coalition, which has come under pressure due to declining support for the government. According to Bloomberg, the head of government is attempting to reach an agreement with political partners on key reforms that have sparked sharp disputes.

Merz wants to coordinate the government's next steps and resolve disagreements over pension system reforms, long-term care, and the reduction of corporate tax. He plans to discuss these issues with leaders of the conservative CDU/CSU bloc and the Social Democratic Party (SPD). Major changes in the social security sector are to be considered by parliament next year, with the relevant work scheduled for completion by spring.

Acknowledging difficulties in finding solutions

During a conference in Berlin held on 7 October, Friedrich Merz openly acknowledged that finding common ground among coalition partners is a constant and extremely difficult task. Nevertheless, the Chancellor emphasised his readiness to continue seeking compromise to ensure the continued functioning of the governing coalition.

The problem of rising AfD influence

Against the backdrop of domestic political discussions in Germany, concerns are growing over the increasing support for the far-right party "Alternative for Germany" (AfD). On 6 October, the AfD managed to secure a majority of votes during the election of a new speaker of parliament in the federal state of Saxony-Anhalt. The victory was made possible by a small number of votes that party representatives received from members of other political forces.

The Social Democrats blamed the CDU/CSU for this. In response, Merz stressed that the vote was secret, making it technically impossible to identify the specific MPs who supported the AfD candidate. At the same time, the Chancellor stated that any support for the far-right contradicts the values of the CDU.

«Будь-хто, хто голосує за депутата від ультраправої партії на посаду голови земельного парламенту, повинен узгодити це зі своєю совістю. Будь-хто, хто голосує за АдН, грає в ігри екстремістів і руйнує довіру» (Anyone who votes for a far-right party MP for the position of state parliament speaker must reconcile this with their conscience. Anyone who votes for the AfD is playing the games of extremists and destroying trust), Merz said.

Weakening of the political barrier

Events in Saxony-Anhalt have caused serious concern among the German political establishment. In the country's capital, there are fears that the so-called "firewall", which was meant to isolate "Alternative for Germany" from other political forces, is gradually weakening.

This incident has also increased pressure on Friedrich Merz. His authority in the capital is diminishing amid falling ratings, despite the successes of the CDU.