Germany is on the verge of forming a new ruling coalition, but one of the first dilemmas facing the incoming government is not policy-related—it’s about finding a name. Traditionally, German coalitions are given informal nicknames based on the colors of the parties involved. With the Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) and the Social Democrats (SPD) coming together, the combination of black and red has sparked some creative suggestions.
According to Deutsche Presse-Agentur, the new coalition cannot be called the traditional “GroKo” (short for ‘Große Koalition’ or ‘Grand Coalition’), as it was under Angela Merkel’s leadership. This is because the SPD is no longer the second-largest group in the Bundestag, having been overtaken by the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD). This has left political observers and the media scrambling to come up with a new moniker for Germany’s next government.
One of the most intriguing proposals comes from the British newspaper The Guardian, which reports that among the suggested names is “the Albanian Coalition” (Koalicioni Shqiptar). The reasoning behind this is purely chromatic: Albania’s national flag features black and red, just like the CDU/CSU and SPD party colors. Similarly, another option mentioned is “the Angolan Coalition,” based on Angola’s flag, which also prominently displays black and red. For those looking for a more commercial touch, “Coke Zero Coalition” has also been floated—perhaps as a playful nod to the idea of a partnership with “real taste and zero calories.”
While these names might seem like lighthearted distractions, they reveal an interesting aspect of how coalition politics is perceived in Germany. The reference to Albania, in particular, is notable given the long-standing ties between Germany and the Albanian diaspora, which numbers in the hundreds of thousands. Albanians have historically contributed to Germany’s workforce and society, and in recent years, political and economic relations between the two countries have deepened. The mention of Albania in a major political discussion—albeit symbolically—underlines how the country’s identity is increasingly recognized in the European political sphere.
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| Flags of Albania and Angola |
Until then, the debate over the coalition’s informal nickname remains a small but amusing subplot in German politics. Whether it will indeed be called the “Albanian Coalition” or something else, one thing is certain: the new leadership will have far greater concerns than just its branding.