Not that it will be particularly relevant in the local Maltese scene for a while now but we can continue to draw lessons from the various coalition governments or formations around the European political world if we would like to.
In Germany, Angela Merkel is preparing for the upcoming election. She has recently pledged to shed the uncomfortable coalition with the SDP should she get re-elected. The choice is mainly pinned on economic plans since SDP and Merkel’s party do not see eye to eye on the measures to combat the recession. Merkel did not however rule out another coalition – this time with the pro-market Free Democrats. It’s not the coalition that seems to not work for Angela but the partners within.
In Italy we cannot really speak of a coalition but rather of an attempt to create umbrella parties in an effort to emulate the US bi-partisan formation. The main justification of the two great “coalition” umbrella parties is stability – so that Premiers like Silvio can feel good for having the longest standing government since De Gasperi. Unfortunately for Silvio, his umbrella party has not managed to eclipse the different identities of which it is made up. The latest clash on immigration policy that squared Gianfranco Fini against Umberto Bossi in a head to head combat is a clear indicator of the problems faced by losely assembled umbrella parties.
Finally in France, the “rebirth” of the Socialists is still forging ahead. They achieved a minor victory this week by winning the Mayorship of Carcassone. The question for the new socialists (post-Segolene) is whether they would be willing to join Bayrou’s MODEM party in a wider coalition. The trend seems to be a red nyet based on the reasonable answer that “anti-sarkozysme” is not a political project of itself. In other words. the socialists in France would only consider a possible “coalition” at a later stage – based on clear programmes and projects not on negative anti-isms.
All in all, it would seem that coalitions, when they have to be considered, remain a double-edged sword.
