Grand Coalition (Germany)
Encyclopedia
In modern Germany, grand coalition describes a governing coalition of the Christian Democrats (together with the Bavarian CSU
) and the Social Democrats, as they are the two largest parties.
of 1919-1933, the term "grand coalition" was used for a coalition that included the Social Democratic SPD
, the Catholic Centre Party
and the liberal parties DDP and DVP
. Such a coalition was in power in 1923 and in 1928-1930, although the latter was not a tight coalition in the modern sense.
, two grand coalitions (Große Koalition) have been formed at the national level. Germany has historically tended to favor narrow coalitions between parties with closer natural alignments, such as SPD
-FDP, SPD-Green or CDU/CSU-FDP coalitions. A grand coalition would be likely only if one of these natural alignments broke down, or if far left or far right parties were to secure significant representation in the Bundestag
.
and the Christian Democratic Union of Germany, the two major political parties in the Federal Republic of Germany
. It was the result of arguments about tax rises between the CDU/CSU-FDP coalition of the time. The FDP ministers stood down and a new government was formed with the SPD under Kurt Georg Kiesinger
of the CDU. This lasted until 1969.
, neither of the traditional coalitions could form a majority government. An ideologically coherent coalition existed on the left
, comprising the SPD, Greens, and the Left Party
, but a desire to exclude the Left Party from government (i.e. a cordon sanitaire
) led the leaders of the SPD and the CDU/CSU to agree to form a grand coalition with CDU leader Angela Merkel
as chancellor and an equal number of cabinet seats for each party. The chancellor was elected on November 22, and the first Merkel Cabinet took office.
The second grand coalition ended when after the 2009 federal election Angela Merkel on October 28, was re-elected by CDU/CSU and FDP Bundestag
MPs and formed the second Merkel Cabinet
.
level in Germany, because other parties might be stronger there than they are on the federal level. For example in several East German states, the party Die Linke often makes it difficult to form a coalition of SPD and Greens or CDU and FDP. As of November 2011, Berlin
, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
, Saxony-Anhalt
and Thuringia
are governed by coalitions between the CDU and the SPD.
Christian Social Union of Bavaria
The Christian Social Union in Bavaria is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It operates only in the state of Bavaria, while its sister party, the Christian Democratic Union , operates in the other 15 states of Germany...
) and the Social Democrats, as they are the two largest parties.
Weimar Republic
In the Weimar RepublicWeimar Republic
The Weimar Republic is the name given by historians to the parliamentary republic established in 1919 in Germany to replace the imperial form of government...
of 1919-1933, the term "grand coalition" was used for a coalition that included the Social Democratic SPD
Social Democratic Party of Germany
The Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany...
, the Catholic Centre Party
Centre Party (Germany)
The German Centre Party was a Catholic political party in Germany during the Kaiserreich and the Weimar Republic. Formed in 1870, it battled the Kulturkampf which the Prussian government launched to reduce the power of the Catholic Church...
and the liberal parties DDP and DVP
German People's Party
The German People's Party was a national liberal party in Weimar Germany and a successor to the National Liberal Party of the German Empire.-Ideology:...
. Such a coalition was in power in 1923 and in 1928-1930, although the latter was not a tight coalition in the modern sense.
Federal Republic
In the post-war politics of GermanyPolitics of Germany
The Federal Republic of Germany is a federal parliamentary republic, based on representative democracy. The Chancellor is the head of government, while the President of Germany is the head of state, which is a ceremonial role but with substantial reserve powers.Executive power is vested in the...
, two grand coalitions (Große Koalition) have been formed at the national level. Germany has historically tended to favor narrow coalitions between parties with closer natural alignments, such as SPD
Social Democratic Party of Germany
The Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany...
-FDP, SPD-Green or CDU/CSU-FDP coalitions. A grand coalition would be likely only if one of these natural alignments broke down, or if far left or far right parties were to secure significant representation in the Bundestag
Bundestag
The Bundestag is a federal legislative body in Germany. In practice Germany is governed by a bicameral legislature, of which the Bundestag serves as the lower house and the Bundesrat the upper house. The Bundestag is established by the German Basic Law of 1949, as the successor to the earlier...
.
Kiesinger cabinet
On December 1st 1966, the government was formed by the Social Democratic Party of GermanySocial Democratic Party of Germany
The Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany...
and the Christian Democratic Union of Germany, the two major political parties in the Federal Republic of Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
. It was the result of arguments about tax rises between the CDU/CSU-FDP coalition of the time. The FDP ministers stood down and a new government was formed with the SPD under Kurt Georg Kiesinger
Kurt Georg Kiesinger
Kurt Georg Kiesinger was a German politician affiliated with the CDU and Chancellor of West Germany from 1 December 1966 until 21 October 1969.-Early career and wartime activities:...
of the CDU. This lasted until 1969.
Merkel cabinet
After the inconclusive result of the 2005 German federal electionGerman federal election, 2005
German federal elections took place on 18 September 2005 to elect the members of the 16th German Bundestag, the federal parliament of Germany. They became necessary after a motion of confidence in Chancellor Gerhard Schröder failed on 1 July...
, neither of the traditional coalitions could form a majority government. An ideologically coherent coalition existed on the left
Left-wing politics
In politics, Left, left-wing and leftist generally refer to support for social change to create a more egalitarian society...
, comprising the SPD, Greens, and the Left Party
The Left (Germany)
The Left , also commonly referred to as the Left Party , is a democratic socialist political party in Germany. The Left is the most left-wing party of the five represented in the Bundestag....
, but a desire to exclude the Left Party from government (i.e. a cordon sanitaire
Cordon sanitaire
Cordon sanitaire — or quarantine line — is a French phrase that, literally translated, means "sanitary cordon". Though in French it originally denoted a barrier implemented to stop the spread of disease, it has often been used in English in a metaphorical sense to refer to attempts to prevent the...
) led the leaders of the SPD and the CDU/CSU to agree to form a grand coalition with CDU leader Angela Merkel
Angela Merkel
Angela Dorothea Merkel is the current Chancellor of Germany . Merkel, elected to the Bundestag from Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, has been the chairwoman of the Christian Democratic Union since 2000, and chairwoman of the CDU-CSU parliamentary coalition from 2002 to 2005.From 2005 to 2009 she led a...
as chancellor and an equal number of cabinet seats for each party. The chancellor was elected on November 22, and the first Merkel Cabinet took office.
The second grand coalition ended when after the 2009 federal election Angela Merkel on October 28, was re-elected by CDU/CSU and FDP Bundestag
Bundestag
The Bundestag is a federal legislative body in Germany. In practice Germany is governed by a bicameral legislature, of which the Bundestag serves as the lower house and the Bundesrat the upper house. The Bundestag is established by the German Basic Law of 1949, as the successor to the earlier...
MPs and formed the second Merkel Cabinet
Cabinet Merkel II
The Merkel Cabinet II is the current government of Germany since October 28, 2009, during the 17th legislature of the Bundestag. Led by the Christian Democrat Angela Merkel , it is supported by a coalition of the Christian Democratic Union , Christian Social Union of Bavaria and the Free...
.
State level
Grand coalitions are more common at the stateStates of Germany
Germany is made up of sixteen which are partly sovereign constituent states of the Federal Republic of Germany. Land literally translates as "country", and constitutionally speaking, they are constituent countries...
level in Germany, because other parties might be stronger there than they are on the federal level. For example in several East German states, the party Die Linke often makes it difficult to form a coalition of SPD and Greens or CDU and FDP. As of November 2011, Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is a federal state in northern Germany. The capital city is Schwerin...
, Saxony-Anhalt
Saxony-Anhalt
Saxony-Anhalt is a landlocked state of Germany. Its capital is Magdeburg and it is surrounded by the German states of Lower Saxony, Brandenburg, Saxony, and Thuringia.Saxony-Anhalt covers an area of...
and Thuringia
Thuringia
The Free State of Thuringia is a state of Germany, located in the central part of the country.It has an area of and 2.29 million inhabitants, making it the sixth smallest by area and the fifth smallest by population of Germany's sixteen states....
are governed by coalitions between the CDU and the SPD.