2013 Elections in Germany

[ERvND]

Just why, exactly, does Merkel need a coalition partner?  Is the idea of a minority government that scary for Germans?

Above all, there are historical reasons for that. During the Weimar Republic, most governments were minority governments, and Germans still remember how this ended up.

Personally, I don't think it should matter today, but the political elite is still scared by minority governments.

[Franknburger]

There are two issues at play here:

First, if they are not part of  the governing coalition, there is nothing keeping SPD and Grüne, respectively, to push through their election agenda together with the Linke: Tax reform, minimum wages, gay marriage, stopping the allowance for parents not sending their children to public early childhood care centers, etc. A nightmare for Merkel and the CDU -it could end up like USA today, without presidential powers (a chancellor depends on her/his parliamentary majority).

Secondly, there is still a bit of unfinished Euro business, where German leadership is required and expected. If Merkel has no majority, she becomes a European lame duck. There is no better way to kill the world economy than having both the USA and the Euro-zone blocked by partisan struggles...

[Middle-aged Europe]

Also, if you form a minority government the respective opposition parties - and perhaps the media too - usually accuse you of acting irresponsibly and not on the interest of the country by willfully putting up an "unstable" government.

[Franzl]

I don't see how a Merkel minority government works when every other party in parliament can clearly be considered opposition.

I mean, a red-green minority tolerated by the Left works because their programs are relatively similar, even if they dislike each other.

[Franzl]

For every silver lining, a cloud.

(hope things are at least mostly good for you, btw)

Yes, quite good actually. Hope the same is true for you

[Famous Mortimer]

I don't see how a Merkel minority government works when every other party in parliament can clearly be considered opposition.

I mean, a red-green minority tolerated by the Left works because their programs are relatively similar, even if they dislike each other.

This.

Aren't most minority governments these days establishment parties being tolerated by extremist parties they share an ideology with but don't want to be formally linked to?

[Middle-aged Europe]

Two days before the first (and only?) talks between CDU/CSU and Greens, leading CSU politicians have given interviews in which they reiterated their disdain for the Green Party.

Outgoing Green chairwoman Claudia Roth has retaliated by demanding an apology for the CSU's negative campaigning against the Greens.