Berlin. Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) has voiced concerns over mounting unease within the German government and warned against descending into petty disputes over style rather than substance.
Germany's coalition fractures as Dobrindt warns of stalled reforms and infighting
"I do, of course, see a certain degree of nervousness," he admitted in an interview with Spiegel's video series Spitzengespräch (Top-Level Talk). He attributed this tension in part to the current political climate and the government's sagging poll numbers.
Addressing the increasingly strained relations between coalition partners—such as the sharp public criticism leveled by Economy Minister Katherina Reiche (CDU) against proposals from Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil (SPD)—Dobrindt questioned whether such confrontations were truly necessary. He cautioned that the coalition risked ending up mired in accusations over tone rather than tackling real issues. While policy disagreements were to be expected in any governing alliance, he stressed that problems arose "when things degenerate into arguments over style rather than substance."
The interior minister was also critical of the outcomes of the two-day coalition retreat at Villa Borsig. "I do believe we could have achieved more in those two days," Dobrindt said. "There was some frustration." He acknowledged that the groundwork had allowed for greater progress, but ultimately, "not everything came together." Many initiatives, he noted, were "80 percent complete—but not quite finished. And now they're still sitting on the table."
Dobrindt conceded that the government had fallen short in both pace and approach. Public expectations, he said, had not been fully met, and it was undeniable that the coalition could—and should—have moved faster on key issues. From his perspective, urgent reforms in labor market and tax policy demanded swifter action.
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