Große Koalitionen als Sanierungsmodell?: Erfahrungen aus Bremen
In: Zeitschrift für Parlamentsfragen: ZParl, Band 37, Heft 3, S. 626-640
ISSN: 0340-1758
For the second time in the history of the Federal Republic of Germany it is governed by a grand coalition, the first one ruling from 1966 to 1969. It seems as if grand coalitions constitute an exception to the rule. At state level, however, there have been grand coalitions more often than is generally assumed. At present, more German states are governed by such coalitions than ever before - including Bremen where the SPD (Social Democratic Party) and the CDU (Christian Democratic Union) have been governing together for the past eleven years. Although conditions at national level differ in many ways from the conditions in Germany's smallest federal state, some conclusions can be drawn from the so-called Bremen Model with regard to the inner dynamics of such a coalition. Looking at the main stages of the development of the Bremen coalition it becomes clear how relations between the two coalition partners have changed over time. While the cooperative spirit among the main actors of the grand coalition was a major guarantee for success during the first two terms, the coalition is becoming less efficient the longer it governs, deteriorating in its third term to a coalition of crisis. (Zeitschrift für Parlamentsfragen / FUB)