{
  "id": "RL33252",
  "type": "CRS Report",
  "typeId": "REPORTS",
  "number": "RL33252",
  "active": false,
  "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
  "versions": [
    {
      "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
      "id": 311952,
      "date": "2006-01-17",
      "retrieved": "2016-04-07T19:20:56.887029",
      "title": "Germany's \"Grand Coalition\" Government: Prospects and Implications",
      "summary": "A \"grand coalition\" government of Germany's two largest parties, the Christian Democrat\nUnion/Christian Socialist Union (CDU/CSU) and the Social Democratic Party (SPD) led by CDU\ncandidate Angela Merkel took office on November 22, 2005, after the German federal election of\nSeptember 18, 2005, had produced no clear winner. Some experts believe that the coalition will be\nfragile, short lived, and will accomplish little with each side trying to gain political advantage over\nthe other. Such negative expectations are not shared by other analysts who believe that only such\na large coalition can implement potentially painful but needed economic and social reforms,\nassuming that it can overcome partisan politics. \n The most difficult and crucial areas on which the coalition must cooperate if the government\nis to succeed involve social and economic policy. Government success will be important, not just\nfor Germany, but also for Europe and global economic health. Experts believe that Angela Merkel,\nas Chancellor, wants to speed domestic social and economic reforms. It is not clear whether she will\nhave broader domestic support to do so, especially among the SPD base.\n Many observers expect more continuity than change in German foreign policy under the \"grand\ncoalition\" government. On most issues, the CDU/CSU and the SPD are not far apart. Germany is\nexpected to continue to give priority to multilateral approaches to solving international problems.\nMany expect Chancellor Merkel to balance traditional strong Franco-German cooperation within the\nEU with closer ties to the United Kingdom, and other countries such as Italy, Spain, and Poland. She\nis expected to pursue European integration as a corollary rather than in opposition to the transatlantic\npartnership.\n U.S. officials and many experts hope for improvement in U.S.-German bilateral relations under\nthe Merkel-led government. Merkel has given priority to reducing the strains in transatlantic\nrelations, as well as improving negative German public opinion regarding the United States. The new\nGerman government is unlikely to fundamentally change the German stand on Iraq, meaning that\nit will provide some financial and training assistance outside Iraq, but no military personnel on the\nground. It is likely to continue to take a lead in efforts to stabilize Afghanistan. Chancellor Merkel\nis expected to continue Germany's domestic and international efforts to combat terrorism. The\nUnited States, Germany, and the EU are working together to oppose Iran's development of nuclear\nweapons. Chancellor Merkel has indicated that she will not support a lifting of the EU arms\nembargo against China, which the United States also opposes. A number of differences are likely\nto continue even under the Merkel government, such as on the treatment of terror suspect prisoners,\nextra-judicial \"renditions,\" environmental policy, and the International Criminal Court. Chancellor\nMerkel's first official visit to Washington and her talks with President Bush on January 13, 2006,\nwere designed to demonstrate that a new positive chapter had opened in bilateral relations, although\ndifferences were discussed candidly. The two leaders agreed on most points, including the urgency\nof addressing Iran's nuclear ambitions. This report will be updated.",
      "type": "CRS Report",
      "typeId": "REPORTS",
      "active": false,
      "formats": [
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          "encoding": "utf-8",
          "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/RL33252",
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      ],
      "topics": []
    }
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Domestic Social Policy",
    "Foreign Affairs",
    "Intelligence and National Security"
  ]
}