Politics

German government descends into crisis mode

Published

1 year ago

November 5, 2024

Ekwutos Blog

Chancellor Olaf Scholz (m) is trying to hold his government coalition together against all odds © picture alliance/dpa

German government descends into crisis mode

Chancellor Olaf Scholz is trying to hold his coalition government together. But the three partners, SPD, Greens and FDP, seem unable to stop the infighting, although they depend on each other to stay in power.

Give up or rescue what can still be saved? This is the choice faced by the center-left government of Social Democrats (SPD), Greens and neoliberal Free Democrats (FDP) which has been in office for almost three years. The three parties have always been at loggerheads because many of their core policies are substantially different: The SPD and Greens believe in strong state and debt-financed policies. The FDP takes the opposite view.

Initial common ground was quickly exhausted. The give and take that is necessary for a coalition is now becoming increasingly difficult.

The situation has recently escalated around economic and budgetary policy. A ruling by the Federal Constitutional Court around a year agoexposed the rifts between the coalition partners. Back then, Germany’s highest court ruled against the government’s plans to reallocate money earmarked but never spent from a cache of debt taken out to mitigate the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. The money was instead earmarked for the government’s climate action budget. The court ruling left the budget €60 billion ($65 bio) short.

Since then, all three coalition partners have been trying to raise their own profile at the expense of the others, publicizing proposals that had not even been discussed with their partners.

Now, Germany is in a recession and tax revenues have fallen, which will tear an additional hole into state coffers.

Last month, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) held an industry summit with leading entrepreneurs and industrial trade union members but did not invite his Vice-Chancellor, the Green Party’s Economy Minister Robert Habeck or Finance Minister Christian Lindner, who is also chairman of the business-oriented FDP.

Linder then organized his own meeting with other business representatives, Habeck responded by proposing a billion-euro, debt-financed fund to promote investment by companies.

FDP calls for a change of direction

Habeck’s proposal is not reconcilable with the positions of the FDP, which insists on compliance with the debt brake — Germany’s strict rules against a ballooning deficit limiting fresh debt to 1% of GDP per year, a provision enshrined in the constitution.

However, a veto was apparently not enough for Lindner. In an 18-page policy paper, he called for a change of direction in the economy. The paper reads like a policy election campaign program for the FDP, which has been underperforming dramatically in opinion polls and regional elections.

Lindner calls for far-reaching tax relief for companies and top earners. He wants to scrap ambitious climate protection targets and reduce welfare

These positions are unacceptable to the SPD and the Greens and contradict the coalition agreement. This is why Lindner’s partners in government are speaking of a provocation and are wondering whether Lindner’s intention is to be kicked out of the coalition hoping this move would give him enough credit with conservative voters to boost the FDP beyond the five percent threshold for representation in parliament.

The popularity ratings of the coalition government have hit rock bottom. The outlook is grim for the three parties, but for the FDP it is now a matter of survival.

The Chancellor is holding on

However, without the FDP, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) would no longer have a majority in parliament. This would not automatically mean that there would be new elections. The SPD and Greens could also continue as a minority government and attempt to seek changing majorities in the Bundestag for their plans. The strongest opposition force, the center-right bloc of Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Christian Social Union (CSU) is currently unable to form a Bundestag majority against the SPD and Greens.

However, Chancellor Scholz wants to avert the coalition break-up at all costs. He has been holding crisis talks in the Chancellery since the weekend. First with the SPD’s party leaders, then with FDP leader Lindner on Sunday evening. On Monday, government spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit announced that several three-way meetings between Scholz, Habeck and Lindner were planned over the next few days.

“A lot is currently happening under high pressure,” emphasized Hebestreit. The aim, he said, is to develop “an overall concept” based on the various proposals on economic policy.

“The government will do its job,” said Scholz when he was asked by journalists on the sidelines of a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Berlin on Monday whether his government was unstable. “I am the chancellor, it’s about pragmatism and not ideology,” Scholz said stiffly.

The steps ahead

Several closed-door meetings will culminate in a session of coalition representatives on Wednesday (November 6). Then, for the first time in weeks, the leaders of all three parties and their parliamentary groups will be sitting at the same table. They will have to look each other in the eye and clarify what they can still agree on.

There is considerable time pressure, as the 2025 budget is due to be passed in the Bundestag at the end of November. The so-called adjustment meeting of the Budget Committee, in which the package is finalized, is scheduled for November 14. The draft budget still has a shortfall of several billion euros.

In his economic paper, Linder proposed cutting the welfare payments called “citizens’ allowance.” To fill holes in the budget he also suggested using the ten billion euros originally intended as a subsidy for a new Intel chip company which has since been put on hold.

The SPD and the Greens, however, would like to see that money remain in the Climate and Transformation Fund to promote climate projects and the development of new technologies. The construction of the Intel factory has only been postponed, SPD leader Saskia Esken emphasized. “That is why it would not be expedient to let these funds disappear somewhere in the cracks of the budget,” she said.

On Monday, Esken was keen to defuse the tension.“It’s not about a showdown,” she said. “We have absolutely no inclination to let the coalition fail, we need a responsible government,” she said.

The Greens are also warning against a break-up. “VW is going down the drain, there is an election in the US, Spain is suffering from massive flooding and the Russians are breaking through one front after another in Ukraine,” said Green Party leader Omid Nouripour. “This requires a whole new level of seriousness and we are also demanding this from this coalition.”

This article was originally written in German.

While you’re here: Every Tuesday, DW editors round up what is happening in German politics and society. You can sign up here for the weekly email newsletter Berlin Briefing.

Author: Sabine Kinkartz

Politics

President Tinubu Transmits to The Senate Lists Of Ambassadorial Nominees

Published

14 hours ago

December 4, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

President Bola Tinubu has transmitted to the senate two lists of 34 career and 31 non career ambassadors nominees for screening and confirmation.

Prominent names listed as non career ambassadors include Reno Omokri, Femi Fani-Kayode, Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, Victor Ikpeazu and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

Also listed as non career ambassadors nominees are Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Vice Admiral Ete Ibas, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, Senator Nora Daduut, Fatima Ajimobi, and Senator Ita Enang among others.

The two lists brings to 68 number of persons nominated so far as ambassadors awaiting confirmation by the Senate.

Politics

PRESIDENT TINUBU FORWARDS NEW AMBASSADORIAL LIST TO SENATE, NOMINATES DAMBAZAU, IBAS, CHIOMA OHAKIM AND OTHERS

Published

19 hours ago

December 4, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

By Prince Uwalaka Chimaroke
4-DEC- 2025

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has submitted a fresh set of ambassadorial nominations to the Senate, featuring a mix of distinguished public figures and seasoned professionals drawn from across the country.

Among the notable nominees are former Chief of Army Staff and ex-Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau; former Chief of Naval Staff and immediate past sole administrator of Rivers State, Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas; former senator Ita Enang; and Mrs. Chioma Ohakim, former First Lady of Imo State.

The President formally transmitted two comprehensive lists containing 34 career and 31 non-career ambassadorial nominees, bringing the total number of nominees awaiting Senate confirmation to 68.

The newly submitted lists mark another significant step in the administration’s ongoing diplomatic restructuring, aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s representation and presence across global missions.

The Senate is expected to commence screening and confirmation proceedings in the coming days.

Politics

I’m Not Playing Politics with Nnamdi Kanu’s Release – Gov Otti Replies Chief Ogbonna

Published

22 hours ago

December 4, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Our attention has been drawn to a statement credited to a Former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Abia State, Chief Charles Ogbonna, wherein he called Governor Alex Otti unprintable names and also alleged that Governor Otti didn’t visit President Tinubu to discuss the issue of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, but to plan on how to defect to the APC, among other childish verbal attacks.

Chief Ognonna has been unleashing unprovoked verbal venom and vituperation on the Governor, but we chose to ignore him, not only because we have been busy with the task of governance, but because we also know that he is traumatised by the obscurity he was plunged into after the 2023 general election and felt he should be allowed to experience some healing that could help normalise his reasoning.

Ordinarily, we would have still ignored Chief Ognonna’s latest idle tirade and allow him delude himself with fantasies of fury, but because the Nnamdi Kanu issue is both sensitive and very important to this government, we felt we should respond and put the records straight.

In continuation of Governor Otti’s efforts aimed at securing Kanu’s release, the Governor subsequently had a meeting with the President after visiting the IPOB leader at the Sokoto Correctional Centre on Sunday, November 30 2025. This is in continuation of earlier meetings the Governor had been having with the FG on this matter in the past two years.

The issue of Kanu was the only subject matter that took Governor Otti to Aso Rock and to the Glory of God, the meeting was both positive and fruitful, as the President was so gracious and generous.

Chief Ogbonna’s allegation of Governor Otti going to lobby to join the APC is both petty, ignoble, laughable and very irresponsible. At the risk of sounding immodest, any political party Governor Otti chooses to join today would roll out the drums and red carpet to welcome him with joy and excitement. If anything, many notable and respected APC leaders are not just desirous of having him in their fold, but are strongly appealing to Governor Otti to join their party because they know that he is not a liability.

Ogbonna accused Otti of betrayal, but he didn’t say who Otti betrayed, how and when.

He claimed that Otti doesn’t have capacity, yet Otti defeated him in his Polling Unit, Ward and LGA where his PDP Candidates from House of Assembly to President lost woefully.

He accused Governor Otti of inconsistency, yet he abandoned Alhaji Atiku Abubarkar less than 48 hours after the result of the Presidential Election was announced, in spite of the empty noise and boast he made about the PDP’s Presidential Candidate, all for Atiku’s money when it was needed and available.

He alleged that Governor Otti is playing politics with Nnamdi Kanu, yet, he is angry that the Governor is engaging the FG to secure Kanu’s freedom. Is there anything more contradictory and ridiculous than Ogbonna’s utterances?

At this point, the general public needs to know the genesis of Chief Ogbonna’s anger and aggression.

Having acquired Agbozu Cocoa Plantation when he was in government, the present government decided to reclaim the Plantation which was yielding nothing to the state under Charles Ogbonna. In line with Governor Otti’s policy of operating a government with human face, which sees him pay compensation so as not to hurt any citizen or investor, he approved a compensation package which was paid to Chief Ogbonna. He was excited and full of thanks and appreciation to Governor Otti for the gesture, because he knew he didn’t deserve it. Unfortunately and in line with his insatiable quest for power and money, he thought that another opportunity had opened for him to surreptitiously sneak into the government as he later nominated his son to be appointed by Governor Otti. The Governor flatly declined the request and subsequently appointed another person from the same Ogbonna’s Community, a development that made him feel slighted, diminished and broken and has since then gone out of control, throwing tantrums and hoping to be invited for settlement.

Chief Ogbonna’s problem, like some of his co-travellers is his failure to wake up from his slumber and realise that the era of ruins is over and that Abia has moved forward, never to be dragged back.

His primitive arrogance and mediocre mindset that limit his understanding of government and governance to political appointments, settlement and sharing of public funds without service to the people has so blinded him to the extent that he attacked the Governor recently for awarding the badly broken Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene road, claiming that the FG had aleady awarded it and thus should not be awarded by the Governor. How could any human being with conscience prefer that his people continue to suffer and die in their numbers just because he feels that building the strategic road would earn the Governor a huge political capital? Ogbonna needs to be reminded that such evil mindset has no place in the New Abia.

Even though Ogbonna’s character deficiency doesn’t position him for any modicum of respect, however, having advanced in age, he is expected to conduct himself honourably and responsibly so as not to attract insults to himself.

Finally, Ogbonna needs to be educated that one of the hallmarks of a great leader is his ability to apply wisdom, emotional intelligence and deploy the instrument of diplomacy in solving problems that have the propensity to impact the security of life and property of the people negatively if handled wrongly.

Governor Otti didn’t campaign with Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s name in 2023, and doesn’t need to campaign with his plight for 2027, however, he strongly believes that resolving the problem of Kanu’s conviction is one of the ways to achieving peace, security and healing in our land. Unfortunately, Chief Ogbonna is not grounded, both in character and knowledge of the ingredients of modern leadership, hence his kindergarten politicisation of Governor Otti’s engagements with the FG and visit to the President.

Now that Ogbonna has become an errand boy in the APC, he needs to be reminded that he can pursue his stomach agenda without necessarily carrying out this misplaced aggression against Governor Otti, because it makes him look more pathetic than he can ever imagine.

Ferdinand Ekeoma

Special Adviser to the Governor

(Media and Publicity)

December 4, 2025.