Grand coalition

A grand coalition is a coalition government in a parliamentary system where political parties representing a vast majority of the parliament unite in a coalition. The term is most commonly used in countries where there are two dominant parties with different ideological orientations, and a number of smaller parties which are large enough to secure representation in the parliament. Typically in such a country, the two large parties will each try to secure enough seats in any election to have a majority government alone, and if this fails each will attempt to form a coalition with smaller parties that have a similar ideological orientation. Because the two large parties will tend to differ on major ideological issues, they will usually find it more difficult to agree on a common direction for a combined government than with smaller parties.

German grand coalition

In the post-war politics of Germany, only one grand coalition (Große Koalition) has ever been formed at the national level. In 1966 the goverment was formed by the Social Democratic Party of Germany and the Christian Democratic Union of Germany, the two major political parties in Germany. Germany has historically tended to favor narrow coalitions between parties with closer natural alignments, such as SPD-FDP, SPD-Green or CDU/CSU-FDP coalitions. A grand coalition would only occur if one of these natural alignments broke down, or if far left or far right parties were to secure significant representation in the Bundestag.

Related Topics:
Politics of Germany - 1966 - Social Democratic Party of Germany - Christian Democratic Union of Germany - Germany - FDP - Green - CSU - Bundestag

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The grand coalition in Germany was formed on 1 December 1966 as a result of arguments about tax rises between the CSU-CDU-FDP coalition of the time. The FDP minister stood down and a new government was formed with the SPD under Kurt Georg Kiesinger. This lasted until 1969. This grand coalition's time in power was marked by the student unrest in Germany as a result of its passing of the German Emergency Acts in 1968.

Related Topics:
1 December - 1966 - Government - SPD - Kurt Georg Kiesinger - 1969 - Student unrest in Germany - German Emergency Acts - 1968

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Grand coalitions are more common at the state level in Germany. As of 2005, Brandenburg, Bremen, Saxony, and Schleswig-Holstein are governed by coalitions between the CDU and the SPD. After the inconclusive result of the 2005 German federal election, a new grand coalition is one of the possible new governments being talked about.

Related Topics:
2005 - Brandenburg - Bremen - Saxony - Schleswig-Holstein - German federal election

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