Overview

• The SPD's digital membership vote on the coalition agreement with the CDU/CSU is underway and will conclude on April 29, with results announced on April 30.
• The agreement requires both a simple majority and at least 20% turnout among the SPD's 358,000 members to be ratified.
• A major intra-coalition dispute has emerged over whether the AfD, classified as a 'right-extremist suspect' party, should be granted its entitled Bundestag committee chair positions.
• CDU leaders like Jens Spahn advocate treating the AfD as a normal opposition party, while SPD leaders, including Katja Mast, firmly oppose this, citing risks to democratic norms.
• If SPD members reject the coalition agreement, potential outcomes include renegotiations, a minority government, or Bundestag dissolution leading to new elections.