Co-leader system in German party politics, a critique

Increasingly German political parties are resorting to a system known as co-leader in German language ‘doppelspitze.’ Typically, a man and woman combination to share leadership such that the entire populace is represented without discrimination. My critique as follows:

Here is the break-down of parties with co-heads:

1. The Greens founded this idea in 1980 and today the “Alliance 90/The Greens” is floating well as the most gender parity party in Germany. The current joint leaders are Franziska Brantner and Felix Banaszak.

2. Social Democratic Party (SPD) followed suit in 2019 where Saskia Esken and Lars Klingbeil function as co-heads

3. The Left Party has co-leaders of Janine Wissler and Martin Schirdewan

4. Alternative for Germany (AfD) a clear outsider in the German ethos is most successful with 150 seats in the Bundaberg, co-chaired by Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla.

Here are the reasons cited for co-chair system:

1. Presumably gender parity is the number one

2. Avoiding internal ideological split and thereby erasing the public image of any disunity in the party structure

3. Removing concentration of power in one person leading towards autocracy

4. Encouraging representation of members from perhaps two opposing wings

5. Dividing the party work-load relating to internal management and external image creation.

The exception

The only party to sail against this trend is Christian Democratic Union (CDU) which takes pride in solo leadership. Currently led by Friedrich Merz.

My critique

1. The German constitution does not support co-heads in the appointment of a Chancellor. There must be a single authority vested with legal and executive powers to lead the country. Therefore domestically the idea of having co-heads in political parties ceased to function when a head of government is to be chosen.

2. Neither European practice encourages split authority at the head of government level may be Prime Minister President or Chancellor. However, there is leeway regarding the head of state who does not possess any executive authority.

3. Only a single leader can assume leadership where decision making at the drop of a hat is vital and necessary. Not only that when the question of accountability arises it is only one Chancellor who owns success or failure.

4. Here is the catch in a contested environment such as crisis confrontation and in extreme cases warfare it must be a single leader in charge and not co-leaders.

5. Whatever said and done Friedrich Merz is the solo Chancellor and he is the one who goes down history as a great leader in making Germany a strong geoeconomics power. No co-leader nonsense!

Therefore Merz is solely responsible for navigating strategy amid geoeconomics in order to Make Germany Great Again!

 

Cheers!

 

Muthu Ashraff Rajulu

Strategy Adviser

Mobile: + 94 777 265677

E-mail: cosmicgems@gmail.com

Blog:   Strategy Adviser