The coalition negotiations between the Union and SPD have been fraught with tension and internal dissent. The central issue causing discord is the proposed limitations on immigration within the Residence Act. Federal Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius has been vocal in his criticism, accusing Union negotiators Alexander Dobrindt and Thorsten Frei of lacking conscience and disregarding human rights. He argues that the term 'limitation' in the migration context is merely a placebo with no real effect.
The SPD's left wing and the Jusos have fiercely opposed the current sounding paper, arguing that its provisions are unacceptable and even unconstitutional. These disagreements are not just internal; the Greens have also expressed opposition to the financial plans tied to the negotiations.
Both parties are under pressure to reach a coalition agreement. The Union is pushing for stricter asylum policies, reflecting their election promises of a 'migration turnaround'. Meanwhile, the SPD, despite their lower election result, claims significant victories in the negotiations, particularly in removing the most controversial proposals from the draft agreement.
Amidst this backdrop, the SPD plans to hold a vote among its base on whether to enter the Grand Coalition. The talks are further complicated by accusations that the SPD and Union's policies are aligning too closely with those of the far-right AfD. As negotiations continue, both parties aim to finalize a coalition agreement swiftly, though significant hurdles remain, especially regarding the contentious migration policies.
