[Quanttek]

> German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s centre-left coalition agreed to “evaluate” a tax on internet platforms in its treaty signed in early May, agreeing that the proceeds should be used to strengthen the country’s media landscape.

Not sure in what world Merz's coalition could ever be considered centre-left. It's a coalition of the conservative party (which moved much further right under his leadership) and the centrist Social Democrats (who equally moved to the right/center under current and former leadership). Calling them "centre-right" could perhaps be acceptable, all while "conservative" is also a widespread label.

[fileeditview]

I'd say the coalition is just "center" with the CDU being center-right and the SPD being center-left that seems like a good conclusion..

How did the SPD move to the right? By forming a coalition with the CDU? That claim sounds very dubious to me..

[fabianholzer]

The SPD started moving to the right shortly after Schröder was elected chancellor. Their policies curbed the welfare system in a "only Nixon could go to China manner".

[fileeditview]

Schröder is long gone and especially the current SPD seems a good distance from Schröder's politics.

[fabianholzer]

I see very much a continuity of the Agenda 2010 attitude within the party.

[Eezee]

Especially since the only party to the right of Merz are actual right-wing extremists.

[mytailorisrich]

On the other hand, in modern European politics very often anything that is traditional right wing is labeled "far right extremists" anyway at this point, especially if they are a bit too critical of the EU and open borders. The only thing 'acceptable' is "centre right".

For instance in France, at this point, the National Rally (Le Pen) is not really more in the right than the traditional conservative/right wing party was in the 70s and 80s (with years in government). It is plainly just "the right" and largest party in Parliament, yet they are labeled dangerous far right extremists because it is (less and less) helpful politically...

Not sure exactly how the political positioning is in Germany but overall "far right" and "right-wing extremists" have lost all meaning generally in Europe because those terms are so abused. The current German government coalition does not seem to particularly reflect the democratic result of the latest election (majority on the right), same as in France.

[riehwvfbk]

So it makes sense then: there are two parties. The center is the imaginary line in the middle. One of the parties is center-left, the other is center-right. Logic! :)