Red-Green-Yellow Alliance: The traffic light sounding will not be a sure-fire success

The traffic light is still not a sure-fire success. The differences in financial and tax policy are too great. Only one thing is clear: Laschet’s political end seems only a matter of time.

The preliminary decision for a traffic light coalition has been made, a Jamaica alliance is becoming increasingly unlikely. And not because the Greens and Liberals decided in cleverly coordinated press conferences for explorations with the SPD. Not even because the Greens and Liberals reject parallel negotiations with the Union on a Jamaica alliance.

Jamaica option at hand

On the contrary: the Greens and the FDP deliberately want to keep the Jamaica option in hand, also in order to have a stronger negotiating position in the talks with Olaf Scholz. The biscuit was “far from eaten,” emphasized the Greens’ co-party leader, Robert Habeck.

No, it is the Union itself that has dealt the near-death blow to a Jamaica coalition. First of all, Chancellor candidate Armin Laschet declares that he is still ready for Jamaica despite the traffic light probes that are now beginning. A little later, CSU boss Markus Söder stabbed him in the back and spoke of a “de facto rejection of Jamaica” and a “clear preliminary decision for the traffic light”. The Union is not the “spare wheel”. Söder rejects a kind of “permanent lurking”. And his regrets about the likely course of the Union in the opposition is limited.

Laschet’s authority continues to crumble

After all, the CSU boss sees his chance in four years. In contrast, Armin Laschet’s authority continues to crumble. Its political end seems only a matter of time. The outward appearance of the Union is so torn that even the largest Jamaica supporters among the Liberals doubt whether this Union is still willing to govern. So far, Greens and Liberals have acted much more professionally. Once again, they set the pace and direction.

First of all, the Greens of the FDP proposed joint talks with the SPD. The FDP not only agreed, but also made an appointment with Olaf Scholz. It could hardly be better coordinated, especially since the decision was prepared completely silently without the media having been informed in advance. What a contrast to the piercing after the Union’s exploratory talks.

A traffic light government is still not a sure-fire success. The differences between the SPD, Greens and FDP, for example in financial and tax policy, are too great. Nevertheless, Federal Minister of Economics Peter Altmaier is right when he states on Twitter: The traffic light train has left the station. The Union is on the sidelines until further notice.