Cover

In the wake of the televised duel between current Chancellor Angela Merkel and her SPD rival Peer Steinbrück, “a vague hope of a coalition between the social democrats and the Greens has been reborn in the ranks of the SPD,” explains Süddeutsche Zeitung.

Whereas they previously thought that general elections on September 22 would at best result in a “grand coalition” with Merkel’s CDU, several senior SPD figures now believe that, in spite of their party’s poor performance in the polls, political change may still be possible.

To convince voters that a red-green coalition is on the cards, SPD and Green leaders have organised a series of joint election rallies, which will take place in the five states governed by both parties on Thursday, September 5.

Receive the best of the independent European journalism straight to your inbox every Thursday

Are you a news organisation, a business, an association or a foundation? Check out our bespoke editorial and translation services.

Support border-free European journalism

Donate to bolster our independence

Related articles