Egypt Daily News – A day before Friedrich Merz is elected as the new Chancellor of Germany by the Federal Parliament (Bundestag), Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Social Democratic Party (SPD) leaders sign a coalition agreement in Berlin, paving the way for a new government after ten weeks of early elections.
A poll revealed that citizens in Germany are not particularly optimistic about the new government’s ability to cooperate better than its predecessor. The poll, conducted by the YouGov Institute on behalf of the German News Agency (dpa), showed that 43% of Germans believe that the performance of the new coalition, between the Christian Democrats and the SPD, will be similar to the previous coalition, which included the SPD, the Green Party, and the Free Democratic Party (FDP). In contrast, 29% expressed optimism, believing that the new coalition’s performance will be better, while 14% expected it to be worse.
The poll also found that 43% of respondents expect a similar level of conflict between coalition partners as in the previous government, while 31% believe that conflicts will be fewer. On the other hand, 10% expect more conflicts, and 16% were unsure.
Regarding the impact of the new coalition on the atmosphere in the country, Germany’s global reputation, and economic development, 54% of those polled were pessimistic about the future mood in Germany, while only 26% anticipated a positive impact.
As for Germany’s reputation, 39% expected negative consequences, while 33% anticipated positive ones. In terms of economic development, 42% feared negative effects, while 37% expected positive outcomes. The poll surveyed 2,275 eligible voters between April 25-28, 2025.
When asked whether the coalition would last for the full four-year legislative term, there was some optimism: 41% said “yes,” 35% said “no,” and 23% were unsure. Notably, 76% of supporters of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party believe that the new coalition will collapse before the end of the term. Unsurprisingly, supporters of the CDU and SPD were the most confident.
On Monday, May 5, 2025, the leaders of the new coalition government in Germany, led by the Christian Democrats, will sign the coalition agreement, paving the way for the new government to take office after ten weeks of early elections held on February 23, 2025.
The leaders of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), and the SPD will sign the 144-page agreement titled “Responsibility for Germany” in Berlin at noon (local time), a day before the Bundestag elects Friedrich Merz as Germany’s new Chancellor.
Despite the narrow majority of 328 seats in the 630-member Bundestag, Merz’s election, requiring a majority of at least 316 votes, is almost certain. Lars Klingbeil, leader of the SPD, is set to become Deputy Chancellor and Minister of Finance, though the SPD has yet to announce its six other ministers, as the Christian Democrats named theirs last week.
Once Merz is elected and his government swears the constitutional oath, the new government can start working, exactly six months after the collapse of the previous left-wing coalition led by SPD’s Olaf Scholz, which led to the early elections.
The new government faces a variety of challenges, including a struggling German economy, dilapidated infrastructure, migration issues, the Russian threat to European security, and an American president pursuing unprecedented hardline policies.
The Christian Democrats won the last general election, followed by the far-right AfD party, which the domestic intelligence agency recently classified as a “confirmed far-right extremist” organization. The SPD, traditionally one of Germany’s two main political forces, fell to third place and will be the junior partner in the new coalition.
Olaf Scholz bids farewell with a grand military music performance. The German military will bid farewell to outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Monday, with a large musical display featuring Beatles songs and Bach compositions.
The ceremony is set to take place after sunset (9:00 PM local time) with torchlight in front of the Ministry of Defense in Berlin. This event is a tradition to honor all outgoing chancellors, federal presidents, defense ministers, and senior military leaders.
Friedrich Merz, leader of the Christian Democratic Union, is set to be elected as Chancellor by the Bundestag on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, marking the end of Scholz’s 1,245-day term as Chancellor, when he will hand over the appointment document to Merz. Scholz will remain a member of the Bundestag after leaving office, having won a direct seat in his Potsdam constituency, which he intends to keep until the end of the current legislative term.
