“Calm approach” of new German government praised by Christians

Germany has a new government that brings together the Christian Democrats (CDU-CSU) and the Social Democrats in another effort of ‘grand coalition’.

After an election charged with much tension in which the far-right nationalists of Alternative for Germany (AfD) obtained a historic second place, the negotiations to form a new government around the new Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, took less time than expected.

The German Evangelical Alliance (EAD) expressed its “thankfulness” for the country having been spared a “longer period of uncertainty”.

“Coalition negotiations, while not without tension, were conducted in a moderate manner in terms of the choice of words”, the evangelical body said, and where a “peaceful change of government”, especially when compared to the international socio-political situation at the moment.

But chair Reinhardt Schink also had a critical approach to the new policies presented by the government. “Although important Evangelical Alliance issues have been included in the coalition agreement, it is not the hoped-for signal of a new beginning. Particularly with regard to important issues of life ethics, necessary corrections are not mentioned or remain vague – for example, with regard to strengthening families, human identity or the protection of life”.

This said, the evangelical body also admitted that in a context of strong polarisation in which the youngest voted for the more radical options, “compromise is needed” to reach agreements.

The Alliance, which has pushed changes to protect women trapped in human trafficking rings also expressed their disappointment that no policies to face sexual exploitation in prostitution were presented. In this area, “there is concern that the necessary, far-reaching change of direction will not take place”.

On the other hand, a success to be celebrated, is the commitment of the new government of Germany with the figure of the envoy for freedom of religion or belief.

The German Evangelical Alliance “wants to accompany the work of the future government in prayer for those in positions of responsibility, since they will play a decisive role due to the broad scope of the compromise formulations in the coalition agreement”.

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