🇩🇪 1st anniversary of the Ampel coalition 🚦

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

Considering the tough climate, four traffic lights.

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

Considering the tough climate, four traffic lights.

Do you think the coalition will endure over the whole legislative term?

I instinctively said No because of how disparate the coalition seemed. But German political culture emphasizes stability and I can't think of any occasion over the past thirty years that a German federal governing coalition broke up before the four years was up. So I've changed my mind.

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

I instinctively said No because of how disparate the coalition seemed. But German political culture emphasizes stability and I can't think of any occasion over the past thirty years that a German federal governing coalition broke up before the four years was up. So I've changed my mind.

Well, Schröder's coalition broke up in 2005, one year before the regular elections. The reason for that was his sheer unpopularity owing to his neoliberal Hartz reforms, which led to his SPD losing one state election after another, thus losing the majority in the Bundesrat.

I don't think that really counts, right? The coalition was SPD-Green, and it's not like the Greens pulling their support brought about the end of the government. It was Schroder deciding to call an election early, though German methods.