"We had no grace period": Klingbeil takes stock after 100 days of the Merz government

Recently, there have been repeated frictions between the CDU/CSU and the SPD. Social Democrat leader Klingbeil reminds all sides of their responsibilities. "But we are a long way from the era of traffic light coalitions," he assures.

Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil has drawn a mixed assessment of the first 100 days of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU)-Social Democratic (SPD) federal government. "The bottom line is that we have achieved a lot together in this initial period that will change our country for the better," Klingbeil told the "Rheinische Post" newspaper. He cited the financial package for infrastructure and defense, "two budgets, the growth booster for the economy," and the pension package passed on Wednesday.

With regard to the canceled election of constitutional judges in July, the SPD leader emphasized, however: "If we make agreements, then they must stand. We as the SPD must be able to rely on them." The CDU/CSU parliamentary group in the Bundestag did not support the coalition's election of SPD candidate Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf. "As we entered the summer recess, this overshadowed the coalition's successes," Klingbeil said. "But we are a long way from the era of traffic light coalitions," he emphasized, referring to the numerous conflicts between the SPD, FDP, and Greens in the previous government.

The relationship between Chancellor Friedrich Merz and him is nevertheless "trustful," the Finance Minister said. At the start of the coalition, he emphasized: "We didn't have a 100-day grace period; it was probably not even three days."

Klingbeil is cautiously optimistic about the fall: "I want this coalition to succeed. We all share responsibility for that." Klingbeil emphasized: "People want us to find solutions, and we have to work on that." The CDU/CSU coalition is "very far removed" from the discord of the previous government, consisting of the SPD, the Greens, and the FDP.