Chemical row poisons coalition talks in Berlin

German chancellor Angela Merkel’s hopes of finding a fourth term government under her Christmas tree have been hit by an unexpected complication as a weedkiller row poisons relations with her would-be coalition partners.

Ahead of a first meeting on Thursday to discuss another grand coalition, the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) have let fly at Dr Merkel and her agriculture minister for backing a five-year license for European use of the herbicide glyphosate.

Critics say glyphosate, the active ingredient in the brand-name weedkiller Roundup, causes cancer and is linked to massive bee deaths – claims denied by producers.

The decision over whether to back or block glyphosate’s use in Europe divided the last Merkel administration, with the SPD opposed and her Christian Democrat/Christian Social Union (CSU) camp in favour.

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Instead of Germany abstaining, standard practice when Berlin’s grand coalition partners are at odds on an issue, acting CSU federal agriculture minister Christian Schmidt voted in favour of the extension.

“This is simply unprofessional,” said Barbara Hendricks, the acting federal environment minister, of the SPD. “You cannot simply break the government’s rules of procedure.”

She said she called the agriculture minister before the tight vote to remind him of the ongoing dissent in Berlin, and her expectation that he would abstain.

Mr Schmidt confirmed in a text message he would abstain, she said, but then voted in favour. Germany’s support tipped the decision in favour of a five-year extension.

Weedkiller phase-out

In the end 18 member states – including Ireland – approved the extension, nine opposed and one abstained, amounting to a positive verdict under the EU’s qualified majority rules.

French president Emmanuel Macron had called for a shorter extension and a rapid phase-out of the weedkiller – and has vowed to proceed with this plan regardless.

Mr Schmidt defended his decision in the EU food committee, saying he was entitled to vote as he did.

“It falls under my responsibility, politicians who never decide get trapped,” he said, saying the European Commission would have pushed through a new licence anyway – but without restrictions.

Judging by the SPD reaction to the vote on Tuesday in Berlin, glyphosate may prove toxic not just for weeds but also political co-operation.

President Frank Walter Steinmeier is to chair talks on Thursday between Dr Merkel, CSU leader Horst Seehofer and SPD leaders Martin Schulz and Andrea Nahles.

Mr Schulz has opposed a third grand coalition but, as Dr Merkel’s last option, Ms Nahles and other SPD leaders see a chance for major concessions for the German leader on social and EU policy.

Danger to biodiveristy

Sensing a growing danger to Thursday’s talks, and her last option for a fourth term without fresh elections, Dr Merkel intervened in the row on Tuesday afternoon.

She said Mr Schmidt’s vote was at odds with the federal government’s prepared line and she had spoken to him about it.

“I expect that such an action is not repeated,” she said, insisting that coalition rules must be “just as respected” in an acting government as a regular administration.

Environment groups, who see the glyphosate as a danger to biodiversity, saw in the vote the influence of the German chemical lobby, in particular manufacturer Bayer.

The Leverkusen conglomerate is currently negotiating a $63.5 billion (€53.5 billion) takeover bid of US company Monsanto, which developed glyphosate.

Both companies make products containing the active ingredient and on Tuesday expressed disappointment at only securing a five-year extension.

The side-effects of glyphosate have long been contested. A World Health Organisation cancer research agency has flagged the herbicide as “probably carcinogenic”, although other researchers come to different conclusions.