Is a 'Jamaica' coalition possible? The Greens, the FDP, and the struggle to become Germany's third political force

Although Angela Merkel's CDU/CSU has a strong lead in opinion polls, it is still far from clear what kind of coalition will take power after Sunday's German election. Julian Göpffarth assesses the campaigns run by two potential junior partners in the next coalition, the Greens and the liberal FDP, as well as the likelihood of a so called 'Jamaica coalition' between the CDU/CSU, Greens and FDP being formed

German election campaign series: CDU/CSU - "For a Germany in which we live well and enjoy living"

German voters will go to the polls on 24 September for federal elections. But what do the country’s parties want? What are the possible coalitions? And who has the best campaign strategy to sell their proposals to the electorate? In the first of a series of articles analysing each of the main parties’ campaign pledges, Julian Göpffarth assesses the programme of Angela Merkel’s CDU/CSU

German election debate verdict: Schulz didn't beat Merkel, but he pushed her into some surprise statements

Last night's highly anticipated TV debate between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Martin Schulz was viewed by many commentators as a last chance for Schulz to turn around the polling lead held by Merkel's CDU/CSU. Julian Göpffarth writes that it is unlikely the debate will bring about the major shift in support that the social democrats had hoped for. Nevertheless, ..

One hundred days of Martin Schulz: the rise and fall of a ‘Gottkanzler’?

Angela Merkel’s CDU secured a surprise victory over the SPD in state elections in North Rhine-Westphalia on 14 May. Julian Göpffarth assesses where the result leaves the SPD’s leader, Martin Schulz, ahead of the country’s federal elections in September

Macron and Merkel’s warm words mask deeper Franco-German divisions over the future of Europe

One of Emmanuel Macron’s first acts as French President was to meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Julian Göpffarth writes that Macron’s victory over Marine Le Pen was welcomed by both of Germany’s mainstream parties, albeit in different ways. But behind the warm words, his ambitious proposals for the Eurozone are bound to generate concerns among German politicians and both sides will have to compromise if their renewed Franco-German cooperation is to be successful

GroKo for Germany? How the prospect of a new grand coalition is dividing the country and the SPD

On 21 January, members of the German Social Democrats (SPD) will vote on whether to move to the next stage of talks over the formation of a grand coalition between the SPD and Angela Merkel's CDU/CSU. Julian Göpffarth writes that much like the country as a whole, the SPD faces a choice between pragmatic politics and a rebellious yearning for a fresh start

The beginning of the end for political stability? How the new generation of CDU and SPD members are seeking to reshape German politics

An agreement has been reached on the creation of a new grand coalition in Germany, but the deal could potentially be rejected by members of the German Social Democrats (SPD), with results of the membership vote due on 4 March. Julian Göpffarth argues that even if the coalition deal is approved and Angela Merkel remains chancellor, the era of political stability in Germany is drawing to a close, with new younger members of the CDU and SPD now pushing for their parties to take a different direction

The rise of Germany’s AfD: from ordoliberalism to new right nationalism and into the Bundestag?

Opinion polls suggest that as many as six independent parties could cross the electoral threshold and enter the Bundestag in Germany’s federal elections in September. In advance of the elections, we are running a series profiling each of these parties. In the second article of the series, Julian Göpffarth traces the rise of the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), which narrowly missed out on entering the Bundestag in the last federal elections in 2013, but which is well placed to gain representation this time around

Germany's Brexit moment: what happens now following the collapse of coalition talks?

Coalition talks in Germany between the CDU/CSU, the FDP and the Greens have collapsed, with the FDP withdrawing from the discussions after four weeks of negotiations. Julian Göpffarth assesses why the FDP chose to quit the process and what is likely to happen now