The limited nature of the programs is mainly due to the time pressure following the unexpected collapse of the center-left “traffic light coalition” of SPD, FDP, and the Greens. Many plans are also limited because it is not primarily the federal government in Berlin that is responsible, but rather the regional state governments. Formulating new policies in Germany is often a matter of consultation and compromise with the sixteen state governments.
The CDU/CSU, led by Friedrich Merz, wants to (largely) reintroduce the cheap agricultural diesel that was abolished last year. He hopes to win votes from the dissatisfied and protesting German farmers. CDU/CSU says it supports the agricultural transition as proposed by the ZKL Future Commission but does not put forward concrete proposals.
Merz further emphasizes the importance of reducing bureaucracy. He advocates a moratorium on new regulations. Additionally, CDU/CSU wants Germany to push within the EU for less detailed rules, so that EU countries have more freedom in shaping policy.
Other parties such as the right-wing radical AfD and newcomer Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) want to completely or largely leave the EU. The AfD emphasizes the importance of national sovereignty and opposes EU regulations. They also want to completely end military support to Ukraine.
The SPD of Chancellor Olaf Scholz aims for a “digital and bureaucracy-light” agriculture. SPD members want to reform agricultural subsidies (similar to the EU): moving from hectare premiums to income support. However, concrete proposals regarding reforming livestock farming or adjusting manure legislation are also missing from their program.
The Greens, on the other hand, emphasize investments in environmentally friendly farming practices and bring up the ZKL proposals again. They want tax increases for the wealthy to finance this green transition and want to raise the minimum wage to €15.
The FDP, traditionally a supporter of free market principles, has expressed criticism of attempts to loosen the debt brake. They emphasize the importance of fiscal discipline and are cautious about expanding government spending.
Die Linke has opposed free trade agreements such as the Mercosur deal, out of concern for the impact on local farmers and environmental standards. Die Linke wants to end VAT on food products. BSW wants to resume imports of Russian gas and even aims to repair and put the Nordstream2 pipeline into operation.
Most recent opinion polls show that CDU leader Friedrich Merz did not suffer much damage two weeks ago from his failed attempt to push through a tightening of asylum policy with support from the far-right AfD.
Those polls indicate that CDU/CSU can receive around thirty percent of the votes, Alternative for Germany (AfD) just over twenty percent, SPD and the Greens each around fifteen percent. FDP, BSW, and Die Linke each hover around the five percent threshold.
However, there are large regional differences in voter behavior. In the three eastern states (the former East Germany), the right-wing radical AfD and newcomer BSW together can achieve a majority, but their score in the entire federal republic is considerably lower.
CDU leader Merz has ruled out a coalition with the AfD. It is not excluded that three parties will be needed for a majority. In that case, the question will be whether CDU and SPD join forces with the Greens or with the inexperienced newcomers from Sahra Wagenknecht.
The conservative CDU members in Bavaria absolutely do not want to work with the Greens and have already put forward their own candidate for the BMEL ministry. But prospective Chancellor Merz has not ruled out a coalition with SPD and the Greens.