One year after taking office, Baden-Württemberg’s Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann believes that the traffic light coalition must above all work on its culture of debate. “It’s normal for there to be quarrels in a coalition,” said the head of the green-black alliance in the southwest. “The traffic light should just get used to constantly arguing in front of the scenes instead of behind the scenes. Arguing publicly in a crisis is not good for anyone.”
The government made up of SPD, Greens and FDP started its work a year ago under the motto “Dare more progress”. Olaf Scholz took his oath of office as the new Federal Chancellor on December 8, 2021, and the cabinet was sworn in on the same day. Since then, the three-party coalition has argued, among other things, about the term of the nuclear power plants, the gas levy, the 9-euro ticket and the mask requirement, often publicly and via social media.
From Kretschmann’s point of view, the Franco-German relationship, which has meanwhile gotten shaky, should be put back on track and expanded. “I expect closer and more visible cooperation with France next year,” said the Prime Minister of the German Press Agency. “We have to take on a visible leadership role in Europe again.”
Until well into the autumn, there had been tremendous crunching in Franco-German relations. The high point so far was provided by French President Emmanuel Macron when he warned Germany of isolation in Europe at the EU summit in October. A joint cabinet meeting between the two governments was also postponed to an indefinite date – a very unusual step for such close partners. Most recently, both sides tried to maintain relationships.
Kretschmann nevertheless gave the coalition good marks. “The traffic light is far better than its reputation,” he said. “In the greatest challenge of the post-war period, in the worst crisis we have ever had, the traffic light acted prudently and purposefully.” It is only about individual controversial issues or decisions such as the gas surcharge. “Then everyone falls for it,” Kretschmann defended the coalition. “But these are just ex-post know-it-alls.”
