The Germans have finally gotten a new government. It took four months, but the Socialists have agreed to continue their coalition with the Christian Democrats of Chancellor Merkel. This so-called grand coalition will continue in charge of Europe's largest economy; the nature of the coalition, however, will prevent anything too controversial from happening.
Will the continuity in Germany be a good thing? I'm not sure, but it may prove to be a serious problem. The coalition government will continue the two main parties in power. That means that people who are unhappy with the way things are going in Germany will have to look further to the extremes to find a group to their liking. In the last election, the right wing AfD party moved up dramatically thanks to people who wanted to express their displeasure over the government's policies. The Greens and the far left also grew in size in the election. If the new Merkel government just continues the status quo, there will likely be more Germans who are dissatisfied by the next election. Will this be a big help for AfD and its anti-immigrant policies? I believe so.
The problem the Germans face is that their leadership is too unwilling to give up power. Rather than presenting real alternatives to the electorate, they strive to stay in power. If the Socialists had announced that they would, under no circumstances, form a coalition with the Christian Democrats, and also presented a clear program, then a new election could have allowed the Germans a choice as to how to proceed. Of course, it didn't happen. It's unlikely to happen next time either.
I don't like the idea of the extremes of German politics gaining power. The world has too much bad experience with that happening.
Will the continuity in Germany be a good thing? I'm not sure, but it may prove to be a serious problem. The coalition government will continue the two main parties in power. That means that people who are unhappy with the way things are going in Germany will have to look further to the extremes to find a group to their liking. In the last election, the right wing AfD party moved up dramatically thanks to people who wanted to express their displeasure over the government's policies. The Greens and the far left also grew in size in the election. If the new Merkel government just continues the status quo, there will likely be more Germans who are dissatisfied by the next election. Will this be a big help for AfD and its anti-immigrant policies? I believe so.
The problem the Germans face is that their leadership is too unwilling to give up power. Rather than presenting real alternatives to the electorate, they strive to stay in power. If the Socialists had announced that they would, under no circumstances, form a coalition with the Christian Democrats, and also presented a clear program, then a new election could have allowed the Germans a choice as to how to proceed. Of course, it didn't happen. It's unlikely to happen next time either.
I don't like the idea of the extremes of German politics gaining power. The world has too much bad experience with that happening.
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