IV. Securing Domestic Support for Ratification – Negotiations at Level II

Abstract

1. Germany 1.1 Political Power Games and Conflicting Interests No bilateral treaty had ever failed ratification by the Bundesrat – but the coalition of the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the Green Party dramatically increased the odds of such an incredible first! Therefore, Finance Minister Wolgang Schaüble set off to break the combined majority and win the votes of SPD and Green State governors. “Continuous sources of income are of critical importance to States that must reach...