A grand coalition (German: Große Koalition) is a government formed by the two largest parties in a parliament, which normally sit on opposite sides of the political spectrum. The term is most strongly associated with German federal politics, where it describes a cabinet of the centre-right CDU/CSU and the centre-left SPD. Because these parties are the country's traditional rivals for the chancellorship, their joint government is treated as exceptional rather than routine.
Grand coalitions typically emerge under three conditions: (1) the largest party falls well short of a majority, (2) arithmetically simpler coalitions with smaller partners are blocked by policy incompatibility or insufficient seats, and (3) parties judged unacceptable as partners (often populist or extremist parties) hold enough seats to prevent alternatives. They are common in proportional-representation systems and rare in majoritarian ones.
Supporters argue grand coalitions deliver stability, broad parliamentary majorities sufficient to pass constitutional amendments, and consensus on difficult reforms. Critics warn they hollow out parliamentary opposition, blur party identities, and can boost fringe parties that present themselves as the only "real" alternative to the establishment.
In Germany, grand coalitions have governed at the federal level four times: under Kurt Georg Kiesinger (1966–1969), and three times under Angela Merkel (2005–2009, 2013–2018, 2018–2021). Austria has had even longer experience with ÖVP–SPÖ coalitions, which dominated post-1945 politics for decades. Other examples include Israel's national unity governments, Finland's broad cabinets, and various wartime or crisis coalitions across Europe.
The term is sometimes used loosely outside parliamentary contexts to describe any wide cross-partisan alliance, but in formal comparative-politics usage it refers specifically to cabinets joining the two largest parliamentary groups. Delegates analysing coalition formation should distinguish grand coalitions from minimum winning coalitions, surplus coalitions, and national unity governments, which include nearly all major parties rather than just the top two.
Example
In 2013, Germany's CDU/CSU under Angela Merkel formed a grand coalition with the SPD led by Sigmar Gabriel, holding roughly 80 percent of Bundestag seats.
Frequently asked questions
A grand coalition joins only the two largest parties, while a national unity government typically includes most or all major parliamentary parties, usually during war or acute crisis.
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