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Critical day in Germany: SPD urges FDP to ‘act responsibly’

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German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) is set to meet with Green Economy Minister Robert Habeck and Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) on Tuesday and Wednesday for high-stakes crisis talks aimed at defusing a growing budget conflict within the three-party governing coalition.

“Regardless of the outcome of the US elections, I believe that this country deserves responsible governance. We’ll see in the next few days if everyone can muster the strength to actually achieve that,” Saskia Esken, leader of Scholz’s Social Democratic Party (SPD), told reporters on Monday.

Last Friday, a policy paper was leaked in which Lindner, also leader of the Free Democratic Party (FDP), proposed tax cuts and the relaxation of existing climate policies. His proposals, aligned with the FDP’s balanced budget approach, clash directly with the SPD and Green Party priorities.

The leaked 18-page document has drawn comparisons to a 1982 proposal by former Economics Minister Otto Graf Lambsdorff (FDP), which ultimately contributed to the collapse of the SPD-led government. The so-called Lambsdorff Paper cleared the path for the Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) to assume power, leading to Helmut Kohl’s 16-year tenure as Chancellor.

Early elections or minority government?

Several crisis meetings are scheduled between Scholz, Lindner, and Habeck, concluding on Wednesday, 6 November. Tomorrow evening, the Coalition Committee—the government’s highest council—will convene to determine if the coalition partners will agree on a unified plan or go their separate ways. If they do part, options include early elections—potentially by spring—or an SPD-Green minority government if the FDP exits the coalition.

FDP Secretary-General Bijan Djir-Sarai clarified, “The chancellor and finance minister have committed to no spontaneous decisions before Wednesday.”

Central to these discussions is parliamentary approval of the 2025 budget, which must close a shortfall of at least €2.4 billion and agree on steps to stimulate Germany’s struggling economy.

Public sentiment: Half of Germans support early elections

A poll by public broadcaster ARD last week indicated that nearly three out of four Germans are worried about the economic situation, with half favoring early elections. Satisfaction with the ruling coalition has hit a low of 14%.

A potential Donald Trump victory in the US elections could also impact the political landscape, posing a fresh challenge for Germany’s coalition leaders. Omid Nouripour, the outgoing leader of the Greens, emphasized the need to address US election outcomes in Wednesday’s coalition meeting: “This will have serious implications for our economy, security, and Europe’s military dynamics.”

Scholz maintains a pragmatic stance

On Monday, government spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit confirmed that tripartite talks among Scholz, Habeck, and Lindner will continue throughout the week. “There is intense work underway to form an ‘overall economic strategy,’” Hebestreit noted.

When asked if his government was at risk, Scholz, who met NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Berlin on Monday, replied, “The government will do its job.” Scholz stressed that “this is not about ideology; it’s about pragmatism.”

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Netherlands to introduce border controls starting December 9

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The Dutch Ministry of Migration has announced that border controls will be introduced along land borders with other EU Schengen area countries and on certain flights within the Schengen zone starting December 9.

These six-month border controls are part of a broader immigration policy shift proposed by the right-wing coalition led by Geert Wilders’ Freedom Party (PVV), known for its anti-immigration stance.

Migration Minister Marjolein Faber introduced the policy through an official press release following its approval by the Council of Ministers. Faber, representing the PVV, stated, “It is time to take concrete action against irregular migration and people smuggling. That is why we will reintroduce border controls in the Netherlands starting in December.”

The border control measures will officially take effect on December 9. The Netherlands asserts that this decision complies with EU law, which requires member states to notify Brussels at least four weeks in advance when intending to restrict freedom of movement.

Earlier this year, Faber indicated to Brussels that the Netherlands also sought to opt-out of EU refugee obligations.

Geert Wilders, who led the PVV to victory in last year’s elections, celebrated this move on social media, emphasizing that the PVV has kept its promise. Wilders has long advocated for closing the Dutch borders to curb migration and strengthen national security.

Faber did not disclose specific details on how these border controls will be implemented. The plan does not allocate additional funding to the national police for these duties; instead, the six-month controls will rely on existing resources. Faber noted that the border checks should be conducted in a way that minimizes traffic disruption.

The Netherlands shares extensive land borders with Germany and Belgium, where police currently conduct spot checks. Last month, Germany implemented similar border checks with France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Denmark, and the Netherlands, citing concerns over extremist threats.

Both Germany and the Netherlands are part of the Schengen area, a border-free travel zone that includes most EU states along with Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.

Under EU law, member states are permitted to temporarily reintroduce border controls in cases of serious security threats. However, the EU guidelines specify that such measures should be a last resort and strictly time-limited.

Following recent incidents involving Israeli football hooligans and Arab and Muslim communities in Amsterdam, the PVV and Wilders called for the deportation of migrants involved, asserting that irregular migration contributes to increased anti-Semitism.

‘Pogrom’ or ‘Zionist provocation’: What happened in Amsterdam?

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Agreement reached in Germany: Early elections scheduled for 23 February

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German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s party, the Social Democratic Party (SPD), along with opposition Members of Parliament (MPs), have agreed to hold early federal elections on 23 February.

To initiate the election process, Chancellor Scholz must first call for a vote of no confidence in the lower house of parliament. This vote is expected to take place in early December. If the chancellor loses the vote, he can request that the German president dissolve parliament and schedule elections within 60 days.

Germany, Europe’s largest economy, was thrown into political uncertainty last week after Scholz dismissed Finance Minister Christian Lindner of the Free Democratic Party (FDP). This decision led to the collapse of the ruling coalition following a dispute over borrowing to bolster military support for Ukraine.

Initially, Scholz had proposed a no-confidence vote in January, with elections to follow “at the end of March.” However, representatives from the business community and members of the main opposition party, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), pushed for an earlier date. They argued that elections in March would prolong the nation’s uncertainty and that a February vote would help restore political stability.

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Scholz negotiates early elections

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German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has indicated his willingness to negotiate an earlier election date in exchange for opposition support on key legislation that could enable elections sooner than anticipated.

This represents a notable departure from Scholz’s previous statement on Wednesday, 6 November, when he announced plans to call a no-confidence vote on 15 January to ensure elections “by the end of March” after the coalition government dissolved.

On Friday, 8 November, Scholz emphasized that the democratic parties in the Bundestag should collaborate to determine which laws could be enacted by the end of the year.

“In light of a potential early election date, this agreement could clarify when it would be appropriate to initiate a vote of no confidence in the Bundestag,” Scholz stated at an informal EU summit in Budapest.

The Chancellor also stressed the need for a measured, calm approach to setting an election date. However, CDU leader Friedrich Merz reported that Scholz had resisted calls for an immediate vote of confidence during their Thursday meeting.

While constitutional law does not compel Scholz to call a vote of no confidence before the scheduled election date of 28 September 2025, the minority government’s ability to pass critical legislation is contingent on opposition votes.

Scholz declined to specify whether there are particular legislative priorities that would prompt him to advocate for early elections.

Following Scholz’s statement, Germany’s Federal Electoral Office issued a caution against early elections. Its head, Ruth Brand, warned that setting “dates and deadlines” around Christmas or New Year’s Eve would make essential election preparations “nearly impossible.”

By law, any snap election must occur within 60 days of the dissolution of parliament or 21 days after a vote of no confidence.

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