Markus Söder joins SPD boat outing, warns against Weimar‑era politics

German coalition partners held a traditional boat outing on Berlin’s Tegeler See, inviting SPD Seeheim Circle members. Bavarian Minister‑President Markus Söder attended, sharing a meal of schnitzel, potatoes and white asparagus with CDU/CSU figures Carsten Linnemann and Foreign Minister Johannes Wadephul.

Söder used the occasion to stress that the governing coalition will not become “steigbügelhalter” for the AfD, drawing a parallel to the failed Weimar Republic and urging vigilance. The gathering was presented as a signal of unity ahead of the upcoming meeting of coalition leaders with trade unions and employer representatives, where reforms for economic growth and pension policy are expected to be discussed. No concrete agreements were announced, but the event aimed to bolster confidence in the coalition as rumours of a possible chancellor change circulate.

The outing underscores the coalition’s effort to maintain a united front in Germany’s political landscape.