Half of Germans support dissolving Gov over budget issues under Scholz

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
24 Nov 2023 21:56

49% of participants expressed a desire for the dissolution of the "traffic light" coalition government, consisting of Chancellor Scholz's Social Democratic Party (SPD), the Free Democratic Party (FDP), and the Greens.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz arrives for the cabinet meeting at the chancellery in Berlin, Germany, on Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

Nearly half of Germans support the dissolution of the current government led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz, with approximately one-third attributing the halted budget to him, as per a survey conducted by the Civey Sociological Institute for the German news magazine Focus on Friday.

The survey, conducted this week among 5,000 respondents, did not provide a margin of error.

According to survey results, 49% of participants expressed a desire for the dissolution of the "traffic light" coalition government, consisting of Chancellor Scholz's Social Democratic Party (SPD), the Free Democratic Party (FDP), and the Greens. Respondents indicated a preference for the SPD to collaborate with the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU) and the Christian Social Union in Bavaria (CSU) to establish a new government.

An additional 48% of respondents attributed the coalition's challenges to a significant financial gap in the German budget, arising from a court decision deeming the redistribution of unclaimed loan funds from past years as unlawful. Consequently, the survey indicated that 64% of the population has lost trust in the cabinet.

In response to inquiries about the accountable party for the budget crisis, participants were nearly evenly split, with 28% holding Chancellor Scholz responsible, 27% attributing blame to Economy Minister Robert Habeck of the Greens, and 25% placing fault on Finance Minister Christian Lindner of the FDP.

AfD's rise challenges European social democracy

The poll results are released amid a growing wave of support for the right-wing political party Alternative for Germany party (AfD) which has in recent years alarmed German and European politicians alike due to its narrative challenging the collective decision-making model upheld by Brussels at the expense of national sovereignty.

The rise of AfD has triggered social-democrats so much much to the point of Scholz calling them a "demolition commando" that is a threat to German democracy.

"Most citizens know that the self-called 'Alternative' is, in reality, a demolition commando -- a demolition squad for our country," Scholz told parliament at the start of budget debate week, while also expressing concern about the AfD's advocacy for a return to nationalism.

"Our prosperity is most tightly linked with the European Union," said Scholz.

"And that's why the calls for new barriers between the member states, for a dismantling of the EU, and for a radical dismantling of the welfare state is nothing but wanton destruction of prosperity," he further said.

Likewise, on August 14, German sources told The Telegraph that the Bundestag is contemplating banning the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD).

In a speech to German domestic intelligence, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said: "We all have it in our hands to put those who despise our democracy in their place."

Last month, AfD co-founder Tino Chrupalla was admitted to hospital after he got assaulted by two young men who were later arrested and detained by authorities.

The attack occured before he was due to speak at an election rally in Upper Bavaria.