“The Social Democratic Party (SPD) is no longer the natural partner of the Greens,” he said the head of the party’s Parliamentary Group, Anton Hofreiter, expressing his dissatisfaction with the functioning of the governing coalition. “Essential proximity to the Liberal Party (FDP)” states SPD MP Joe Weingarten, especially in economic matters. Problems of consensus within the government remain even after the marathon meeting of the government committee last week.

“As a government we have not presented a good image in recent weeks. In some cases the tones were raised too much”, admitted the Minister of Economy Robert Hambeck (Greens) speaking to his newspapers Funke Grouphowever, assured that “on a human level there is understanding between the members of the government”, but also that “despite the challenges and a lot of work, we also laugh a lot with each other”.

In a different tone, the head of K.O. The Greens’ Anton Hofreiter told the newspaper Die Welt that after the recent meeting of the governing committee it became clear that “Olaf Solz’s SPD is no longer the natural partner of the Greens”. “In the SPD, the interests of workers and industry are more central. Our economy operates globally, it is the backbone of our prosperity, which cannot be burdened at will. With this attitude, the SPD it has substantial proximity to the FDP,” said Social Democrat federal parliamentarian Joe Weingarten on the other hand, particularly criticizing the Greens’ stance on the issue of replacing oil and gas burners for heating. In his constituency, he said, he was attacked by citizens “for whom the rate of replacement of burners is considered too fast”. “We have to take the people into account and the Greens have to learn to make policy according to their election results,” added the MP.

But the problems also extend outside the governing coalition, with FDP vice-president Michael Toerer attacking his party’s hitherto “natural partner”, the Christian Democrats (CDU). “It is a lie that for them the desired alliance is with the FDP. The CDU is, on the contrary, trying to exclude us from Parliament,” said Mr. Toerer and accused the Christian Union (CDU/CSU) of an “extermination campaign” of the FDP, pointing out that, “where there was the possibility of co-government with the FDP, as in Schleswig-Holstein, the CDU’s preference was to ally with the Greens.” Therefore, stressed the FDP vice-president, we clearly support the “light signal” alliance (SPD, Greens, FDP). Olaf Solz “is an absolutely reliable chancellor,” he added.