(Alliance News) - A senior conservative in German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's coalition has dismissed the idea of a minority government amid ongoing tensions with the centre-left Social Democrats, SPD, over the administration's economic and structural reform agenda. 

"Does anyone believe that Germany will be more capable of reforms and achieve more economic growth with a minority government?" asked Jens Spahn at a party event in Berlin on Tuesday.

The coalition between the SPD and Merz's conservative bloc - made of up of his Christian Democratic Union, CDU, and the Bavaria-only Christian Social Union, CSU, - is under increasing strain amid mounting frustration at the slow pace of reforms and fresh concerns about the sluggish economy due to the war in Iran.

Recent polls have shown support for Merz's government reaching historic lows, while support for far-right Alternative for Germany, AfD, is surging.

At a conference of the CDU's economic council in the German capital, Spahn angrily addressed speculation of a breakdown of the coalition. 

"What will improve Germany's capacity to reform if we do not manage it in this coalition? New elections? Does anyone believe, that if we have the Greens alongside as a third member [of the coalition], that things will improve?"

The parliamentary leader of the CDU/CSU bloc continued: "We have the damn responsibility to achieve results in this coalition of the political centre."

The government's track record in its first year in office - which is to be marked on Wednesday - shows that results are possible, Spahn added.

source: dpa

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