The base should not decide on coalitions

Forming a government in a multi-party system is a bit like square dance. Figures, positions and dance partners are constantly changing. Traffic lights today, Jamaica tomorrow. First green-yellow, then red-green, it continues with red-yellow, then the same with black, in between a ringelpiez from the CDU and CSU without touching. The baking of coalitions is a complex business. Pre-exploration, main exploration, maybe post-exploration. And then the coalition negotiations in a larger group, with more public relations, ad hoc marketing and Twitter. You can not change it. The audience is asked to be a little patient at least at the beginning.

But 2017 cannot repeat itself. The sentence fell more often at the weekend, and not just at the Green State Council. And it is true: a coalition can and must be formed in the next three months. The intersections in the two options at issue now, traffic light and Jamaica, are different – but they are there and large enough to base four years of government on them. The big issues may have been a little underexposed in the election campaign. But they are there. There is something to do.

What makes you feel queasy is the danger that lurks towards the end of the partner-finding process. That is the basic stake. The Greens have decided to start coalition negotiations only after the approval of a party congress; the members should approve a coalition agreement including the party’s personnel table in a vote. The SPD will probably also get a basic vote again. And who knows, the Union and FDP soon too.

Twice the risk

There is a twofold risk . The first: The negotiators use the later approval requirement in the talks as a leverage. But that makes negotiations more difficult than necessary. The second: there could actually be a basic veto.

But why the base? The election took place. The most important task of the parties, to help shape the will of the people, as stated in the Basic Law, has been fulfilled. Now only the elected should have the say. You are called upon to act in the Bundestag not only for your party, but for the whole people. It is not a good custom that coalition formation is primarily seen as a task for party committees up to and including member surveys and far too little as the most important task of parliamentary groups.