Merkel coalition truce crumbling

GERMANY: Any hopes Chancellor Angela Merkel may have had that her troubles would fade over the summer holiday season and give her centre-right coalition some relief were dashed by a fresh outbreak of infighting at the weekend.

After agreeing a brief truce in recent weeks to end bickering that had cost Merkel’s government support in voter surveys, coalition partners started quarrelling again over the slow pace of reforms, pension levels and immigration policy.

The coalition has left a host of other issues on the table that are fuelling tensions and putting off voters: nuclear power, welfare reform steps and tax cuts. Parliament is in recess until September and Merkel has taken three weeks holiday in the Italian Alps.

“The government has no plan,” wrote Bild am Sonntag columnist Michael Backhaus on Sunday.

“It’s coming apart at the seams with petty fights about every issue imaginable.

Berlin, Monday, Reuters