Coalition negotiations in Germany and Spain are reshaping political alliances as parties grapple with shifting power dynamics.
In Germany, the CDU faces internal pressure over its stance on the far-right AfD, with health minister Karl Lauterbach warning that any wavering on the party’s "firewall" against the AfD could lead to its downfall. The debate, aired in a *Der Spiegel* interview, exposed divisions between Lauterbach, Economy Minister Peter Altmaier, and CDU leader Friedrich Merz, with doubts raised about Merz’s leadership and the future of a potential black-red coalition .
Meanwhile, in Berlin, the Left Party, Greens, and SPD have agreed to enter formal coalition talks after resolving a dispute over antisemitism, paving the way for a potential red-green-red government. Left Party candidate Elif Eralp could become the city’s governing mayor if the coalition succeeds .
In Spain, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez framed the upcoming Nov. 29 snap election as a choice between "rights or cuts," defending his government’s housing policies against criticism from the right. Sánchez dismissed allegations of mail-in voting fraud as fearmongering, stating, "The lie about mail-in voting is fear of losing the elections" . The election follows political turmoil, including a housing protest encampment in Madrid’s Puerta del Sol .
