Overview
- Friedrich Merz is set to be elected Chancellor on May 6, 2025, contingent on coalition agreement approval by CDU, CSU, and SPD.
- The SPD's 358,000 members began voting online on the coalition agreement, with results expected on April 30, requiring at least 20% voter participation to be binding.
- Internal dissent within the SPD, particularly from the Jusos youth wing, highlights disagreements over the deal's migration and social policy provisions.
- SPD leaders Lars Klingbeil and Saskia Esken emphasize the risks of rejecting the deal, warning of potential new elections, minority government, or strengthened opposition parties like the AfD.
- The coalition agreement includes major reforms such as a €500 billion infrastructure fund, pension level preservation until 2031, and a planned minimum wage increase to €15.