The SPD’s ‘referendum’ on the German coalition agreement poses legitimate problems, but it could also reaffirm citizens’ confidence in party politics

Last month, the SPD and Angela Merkel’s CDU/CSU negotiated an agreement to form Germany’s next government. Before the agreement can be put into practice, however, it will be subject to a ‘referendum’ among the SPD’s membership. Fabio Wolkenstein writes that while the referendum has been criticised from a democratic and legal standpoint, it may have the potential to strengthen the internal democracy of German parties and thereby reaffirm the confidence of citizens in party politics.