The NRW election is a setback for Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the SPD’s top candidate Thomas Kutschaty.
(Photo: dpa)
Berlin According to Bonn political scientist Volker Kronenberg, the election result in North Rhine-Westphalia puts the traffic light coalition under pressure. “One thing is clear: Governing within the traffic light is becoming more demanding and more fragile,” Kronenberg told the Handelsblatt.
The politics professor sees the performance of the SPD as an “absolute disaster” in which Chancellor Olaf Scholz also played his part. “Scholz was not a motor for the SPD – on the contrary,” said Kronenberg. “Obviously, the actions of the Federal Chancellor in the matter of Ukraine and the alarming proximity of some in the Social Democrats to Russia are viewed critically by a majority of voters.”
Kronenberg sees good chances for a black-green coalition for NRW. “It is an open secret that black and green in the Rhine and Ruhr have been able to talk to each other for a long time and are quite open to coalitions,” he explained.
Read the full interview here:
Mr. Kronenberg, how do you assess the outcome of the election for the SPD?
The outcome of the election is an absolute disaster for the SPD. Until shortly before the election Sunday, people had hoped for a head-to-head race, but the CDU’s election victory was remarkably clear.
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Why didn’t the chancellor’s bonus work in NRW?
Apparently, the Chancellor’s actions on the Ukraine issue and the worrying closeness of some in the Social Democrats to Russia are viewed critically by a majority of voters. Scholz was not a motor for the SPD – quite the opposite.
Volker Kronenberg is a professor at the Institute for Political Science and Sociology at the University of Bonn.
(Photo: University of Bonn)
What national political consequences do you expect – will it be more difficult to govern at traffic lights because the FDP will possibly make a stronger impression in view of the setbacks in Schleswig-Holstein and North Rhine-Westphalia?
The election result is extremely bitter for the FDP. This can certainly have consequences at the federal level.
To which?
In the coming weeks, the FDP will try to focus more on its own core concerns of relieving the burden on the middle class in particular and, for example, push the reduction of the cold progression in order to be able to show a recognizable success in the traffic light. One thing is clear: Governing within traffic lights is becoming more demanding and more fragile. The Greens may feel empowered, but the FDP will wonder how they can regain ground, and the SPD will certainly give this gossip to pause.
More on the subject of the NRW election:
Despite the SPD’s electoral defeat, do you see a government option for the party in North Rhine-Westphalia?
There is a clear government mandate for the winner of the election in first place.
Some, including leading social democrats, see things differently.
The statements of some social democrats in this context should not be given too much weight – this is more political mumbo-jumbo, comes across as willful rather than courageous. With a historically poor election result, the SPD cannot make any credible claim to the office of prime minister.
Which coalition do you expect in NRW?
I clearly expect a black-green coalition. It is an open secret that Black and Green on the Rhine and Ruhr have been able to talk to each other for a long time and are quite open to coalitions. Black-green cooperation has existed in NRW at the municipal level for many years – quite successfully. In this respect, such an alliance would not come suddenly.
Do the Greens have what it takes to become a people’s party after the NRW elections?
The future will tell. One thing is clear: along with the CDU, you are the clear winner of the elections and were able to take advantage of the good national political momentum. They were again very strong, especially in university towns and urban regions.
More: Commentary on the NRW election – The FDP does not deliver what the voters promised