Scholz used his first speech to parliament since his coalition lost its majority, after the departure of the pro-business FDP from government, to plead for national cohesion. He called on opposition parties to support his minority government in the months before early elections to prevent Germany from becoming as polarised as the US.
"The times in which we live are darned rough," Scholz said. "We are better off when we stick together - when we can still look each other in the eye even after an argument." He added: "There is no democracy without compromises."
He urged the opposition conservatives to support legislative goals that his administration still hopes to get through "for the good of the nation".
This story is from the November 14, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
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This story is from the November 14, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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