German governing coalition

Because a multi-party system has emerged with two major parties (CDU/CSU and SPD) and a number of smaller parties that are nevertheless frequently represented in parliaments (Alliance 90/The Greens, FDP, The Left, AfD), single-party governments with absolute majorities are quite rare.

A third type of two-party-coalition, which occurs especially after inconclusive election results, is the grand coalition of the two larger parties CDU/CSU and SPD.

[5] The Danish and Frisian minorities of Schleswig-Holstein have their own ethnic party, called the South Schleswig Voters' Association (SSW).

In state politics, a coalition between the SPD, Greens, and SSW, is called the Danish traffic light (de), or Gambia coalition because these parties' colors (including the SSW's dark blue) match the flag of the Gambia.

Alternatively, an übergroß coalition may be created to avoid problems stemming from an undisciplined parliamentary groups, where too narrow a majority carries a strong risk of failure.

A coalition of CDU/CSU, AfD and FDP would have a majority in the 20th Bundestag elected in 2021[b], but was not seriously discussed publicly by either media or politicians.

Other coalitions involving the AfD are considered even more unlikely due to ideological differences and a lack of parliamentary majorities, in addition to the cordon sanitaire.