In the second part of our mock German election simulation–the government formation negotiations–we were able to get a new government voted into power by the recently elected Bundestag. (I refer you to this post for more information about the electoral results.)
To remind you, following the election, we had the composition of the Bundestag was:
FDP–6 mandate (formateur party)
CDU/CSU–4 mandates
SPD–3 mandates
Greens–3 mandates
In order to have a secure governing coalition, a governing coalition of at least 9 mandates would be needed in this sixteen-member parliament.
The FDP were unable to convince any of the other parties to form a governing coalition with them, and the government that was voted into office, by a majority vote of 10-6 was a three-party coalition of the Greens, CDU/CSU, and the SPD.
In the end, it was the personal ambition of the CDU/CSU leader–Patrick S.–that ruled the day. He wanted to become Chancellor and this steely determination served him well as he, with his fellow party members and advisory committee, was able to effectively forge a rather wieldy three-party governing coalition.
Why did Patrick S. want to become Chancellor so desperately? There have been reports in some of the leading journals that it has been his dream since childhood. But in a sit-down interview with Deutsche Welle following his ascension to the Chancellorship, Chancellor S. claimed that it was because this election was crucial to the future of the German state. According to the Chancellor, he and his party believe that a moral crisis of epic proportions has descended upon Germany and only his party had the necessary moral acuity to set Germany back on the correct path.
The Chancellor and the six-member Cabinet is composed of the following:
Chancellor–Patrick S. (CDU/CSU)
Minister of Education–Becky W. (Greens)
Minister of the Interior–Erick K. (CDU/CSU)
Minister of the Environment–Zhivko I. (Greens)
Minister of Foreign Affairs–Kyle B. (CDU/CSU)
Minister of Health–Rip F. (SPD)
Minister of Labor–Andrew S. (SPD)
One of the advisers to the SPD commented that the SPD actually had refused to sign a coalition agreement offered to them by the FDP, which in retrospect, was better for the SPD than the one they signed ultimately. There seemed to be a consensus within the SPD that the arrogance of the FDP had created friction between the two potential coalition partners.
I look forward to reading your impressions of the simulation exercise on your blogs.
Clouds, Clocks, and Sitting at Tables 
You must be logged in to post a comment.