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07. July 2024

Guest article by Prof. Dr. Ulrich Schlie in Cicero: Erhard's memoirs offer revealing insights for the Ampel-coalition Prof. Dr. Ulrich Schlie in Cicero: Erhard's chancellorship as a warning example for the Ampel-coalition

Ludiwg Erhard's memoirs of his time as Chancellor, recently published and edited by Prof. Dr. Ulrich Schlie, can be recommended reading for current government officials. The historical analysis of the break-up of the coalition between the Union parties and the FDP in 1966 offers astonishing parallels to today.

Prof. Dr. Ulrich Schlie im Cicero: Bedienungsanleitung für Koalitionsregierungen
Prof. Dr. Ulrich Schlie im Cicero: Bedienungsanleitung für Koalitionsregierungen © Cicero
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Erhard's memoirs contain "an instruction manual for coalition governments, which Ludwig Erhard himself did not follow, but which can certainly be recommended reading for the current traffic light coalition partners." In 1966, the CDU/CSU/FDP coalition broke up. The reason was the irreconcilable irreconcilability of the coalition partners on budget issues - despite Erhard's programmatic proximity to the FDP. A look back at the break-up of the coalition, which he led as Chancellor for three years, offers an insight into Erhard's sometimes painful memories.

Ulrich Schlie (edt.): Ludwig Erhard - Erfahrungen für die Zukunft. Meine Zeit als Kanzler (1963-1966). edited by the Ludwig-Erhard-Foundation, Berlin 2024.

Prof. Dr. Ulrich Schlie is Director of the Center for Advanced Security, Strategic and Integration Studies (CASSIS) and Henry Kissinger Professor for Security and Strategy Research at the Institute for Political Science and Sociology.

To the article on Cicero.de