Wondering what happens in Germany after Merkel? Black-Green (CDU/CSU+Greens) remains most likely, but Red-Red-Green (SPD+Linke+Greens) is possible. I'm mentioning this because the far-left Linke is currently debating their stance on foreign policy and it's rather interesting

In terms of domestic policy, it's easy to imagine possible compromises between Linke and SPD and Greens. Increase minimum wage, do more to combat climate change, spend more on infrastructure, higher taxes - that sort of thing. In foreign policy, it's a lot more difficult

The Linke wants to disband NATO and end all foreign deployments of the Bundeswehr, Germany's military. They also want to ban all arms exports. Those positions are so radical that Social Democrats and Greens cannot possibly agree to them

So while SPD and Greens happily govern with the Linke at state level (see below), they can't really do it at the federal level (where foreign policy is made) until the Left is ready to compromise on NATO, Bundeswehr, arms exports and so forth

Some in the Linke are willing to move because they see that Red-Red-Green is their only realistic chance of making it into federal government, others see any compromise on foreign policy issues as a betrayal of their core values https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/linke-hardliner-beharren-auf-nato-austritt-und-bundeswehr-abzug-a-7be2abbf-9550-44d0-970a-7e76a7637dfa

It's impossible to say which way Linke will go, but it's definitely going to be a few tough months for them. Either way, it could all be theoretical if the parties of the left (SPD+Greens+Linke) fail to get a majority, which appears to be the most likely outcome at the moment

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