Traffic light in Berlin wants to continue course despite the NRW election

Created: 05/16/2022Updated: 05/16/2022 7:17 p.m

Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) believes that an SPD-led government in North Rhine-Westphalia together with the Greens and the FDP is still possible, despite the disastrous election result of his party.

© Michael Kappeler/dpa

The effects of the North Rhine-Westphalia election can be felt as far away as Berlin.

Two of the three traffic light partners are losing for the second Sunday in a row.

The message is clear nonetheless.

Berlin - Despite the failures of the SPD and FDP in the state elections in North Rhine-Westphalia, the traffic light coalition in the federal government is sticking to its political line.

In the NRW election campaign, he "felt very deeply" that the federal government's course "is supported by a large majority of citizens," said Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) on Monday evening on the "RTL Direkt" program.

"That applies in particular with regard to the question of the Ukraine war." The leaders of the SPD and FDP had previously rejected a change of course.

The Greens as the third partner and one of the NRW election winners made it clear that they do not consider the work in the traffic light to be a burden.

After their NRW triumph, which had been preceded by a great success in Schleswig-Holstein on Sunday, the CDU sees itself back on the road to success nationwide.

"Since yesterday, the CDU has been back in first place among the German parties," said party leader Friedrich Merz.

He pointed out that around every fifth voter in Germany lives in the most populous federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

If you can win elections there, you can do the same anywhere in Germany.

No realignment planned

SPD chairman Lars Klingbeil admitted on Monday that the SPD would have to communicate its policies better in the future.

On the question of a reorientation in the currently dominant Ukraine policy, however, he said: "Clearly: no." When asked about further relief for citizens in view of rising prices, he pointed out that the government had initiated many measures that are now gradually coming into force.

"First of all, it's about communicating more strongly what we do good," emphasized Klingbeil.

"That's the lesson for me."

FDP leader Christian Lindner said: "The traffic light is good for the country, because there is no viable stable alternative." The FDP must work through its problems.

The focus is on government action.

"We currently have no time and no space to deal with ourselves in depth as long as there is a crisis and war," said Lindner.

"The focus is now on the country and not small or large gains in territory for the FDP." The traffic light was never the "political dream" of the FDP.

But the Liberals are “loyal to the treaty”.

The Greens leader Omid Nouripour called the traffic light a "coalition of state political responsibility".

Your tasks have grown again with the Russian attack on Ukraine.

It was in the coalition "everything professionals" - "accordingly, I have no worries".

Merz sees the election result as an answer to the traffic light policy

CDU leader Merz explained that it was primarily an election victory for Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst and the North Rhine-Westphalian CDU.

Of course, federal politics also played a role - "extremely negative for the SPD".

This advertised across the board on posters with Scholz, who also completed many election campaign dates.

The result was the worst SPD result in North Rhine-Westphalia after the Second World War, said Merz.

"The election result is a very clear answer to the Federal Government and in particular to the Federal Chancellor."

According to the provisional official result, the CDU won 35.7 percent of the votes in the NRW election (2017: 33.0).

The second big election winners are the Greens, who almost tripled their result and came to 18.2 percent (6.4).

The SPD fell to its historic low in North Rhine-Westphalia of 26.7 percent (31.2).

The former governing party FDP lost more than ever in NRW and ended up with a weak 5.9 percent (12.6).

With 5.4 percent, the AfD was able to hold its ground in the state parliament (7.4).

The Left remains outside with 2.1 percent (4.9).

Voter turnout fell to a low of 55.5 percent.

Is black and green coming now?

After the black-yellow coalition was voted out, there are now many indications of a black-green state government.

But there is also a majority for a traffic light and for a grand coalition.

Prime Minister Wüst emphasized that he had received a clear government mandate.

He would make all democratic parties an offer to talk.

"We want to forge a modern future alliance with respect and trust that provides answers to the big questions of our time." The biggest challenge is "the reconciliation of climate protection and industrialized countries".

According to their top candidate Mona Neubaur, the Greens are aware of their responsibility and are also ready for "constellations where there is a long way to go".

At the same time, Neubaur emphasized: "For us, there are no automatisms and no exclusions from coalitions among democratic parties with this election result either."

FDP top candidate Joachim Stamp predicted: “We will now get a black-green coalition in North Rhine-Westphalia.

It is clear that the CDU will be willing to sacrifice a lot of content for the election of the Prime Minister."

SPD still hopes for traffic light government

Despite the electoral failure, SPD top candidate Thomas Kutschaty has not yet given up hope of a traffic light government under his leadership.

The "right of first proposal" for coalition talks lies with the election winner.

"But we are also ready, we also offer the Greens and FDP talks to talk about a government."

more on the subject

After the Schleswig-Holstein election, parties set course for NRW

Election campaign finals in NRW - parties fight for every vote

SPD relies on Scholz in the final sprint for the state elections in NRW

Kuchaty received support from the Federal Chancellor.

The SPD did not manage to move from second to first place and immediately replace Wüst from the election result, Scholz told RTL.

But: Now we will look again at what options there are for forming a government.

“That is also the case: the parties that make up the federal government in Berlin, here in Germany, have a majority in the state parliament.

Maybe something will come of it.”

In the AfD, the pressure on party leader Tino Chrupalla is growing.

Board member Joana Cotar spoke out against him running for the post again in June.

“The success story of the AfD ended with Tino Chrupalla.

It neither reflects the entire party nor convinces the voters.

That's why he can't run again as federal spokesman," said Cotar.

Despite the third election debacle this year, chairwoman Janine Wissler believes that a fresh start is possible for the left.

The party's crisis is life-threatening, she said.

But: "We have it in our own hands to free ourselves from this situation." dpa