Crisis is also gripping the Social Democrats (SPD), with polls showing support has slumped to a record low of 12 per cent. On Wednesday CDU leader chancellor Friedrich Merz, praised the Klingbeil speech for “at least not saying what isn’t possible”. The final challenge for Klingbeil will be selling reforms to his party, wearing his third hat as SPD co-leader. Many demanded Berlin party leaders, if they want to keep their jobs, focus on real bread-and-butter issues. The Bild tabloid warned that, without drastic action, Germany was on well its way to becoming a graveyard for ambition.

Source: The Irish Times March 30, 2026 12:30 UTC