Merkel ally: Germany should avoid another ‘grand coalition’

BERLIN – A senior ally of Chancellor Angela Merkel says Germany should avoid another “grand coalition” of its biggest parties after next year’s election, pointing to fatigue among voters in neighbouring Austria with constant such alliances.

Merkel’s conservative Union bloc formed a coalition with the centre-left Social Democrats in 2013. It’s the third time in post-World War II Germany that the rivals have governed together.

In Austria, “grand coalitions” have been a regular feature of post-war politics. In Austria’s recent presidential election, both parties’ candidates were eliminated in the first round.

Volker Kauder, the Union’s parliamentary caucus leader, told the daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung Saturday that “constant ‘grand coalitions’ have wearied people in Austria. We must avoid that in Germany.”

Next year’s election will determine whether an alternative coalition would be possible.