The future is set for Hesse's next governing coalition, as the CDU and SPD parties vote in favor of the black-red coalition agreement. With a resounding majority, the CDU at their Frankfurt conference and the SPD at their controversial Groß-Umstadt conference approved the document without objection, except for a few criticisms. The coalition agreement, which will be officially signed on December 18 in Wiesbaden, promises to uphold the CDU's election pledges, offering "strength for the majority and protection for the minority."
Hesse's Minister President, Boris Rhein (CDU), emphasized the coalition agreement's focus on migration, committing to limit irregular migration while ensuring immigrants with realistic job prospects are housed with local authorities. Integration will also be crucial with specific obligations enshrined in the Integration Act, including a firm stance against anti-Semitism and Israel's right to exist.
The SPD's state leader, Nancy Faeser, described the black-red coalition as a "community of responsibility," noting the coalition agreement's difficult decisions on refugee policy. Delegates at the SPD party conference criticized the agreement, citing narrow migration guidelines and the planned ban on special gender symbols in schools and universities as controversial points.
The Hessian SPD, who have spent 25 years on the opposition bench, will now join the black-red coalition as the junior partner. Achieving 15.1% of the vote in the October 8 elections, the SPD, unfortunately, falls far behind the CDU's 34.6%. The new Hessian State Parliament in Wiesbaden, to be established on January 18, will feature eight CDU ministries and three SPD ministries.
The black-red coalition agreement marks a significant pivot in Hesse's political landscape, reshaping Hesse's policies, priorities, and focus on issues that matter to Hessian citizens. The Governments of the past have enacted policies to drive relevant development, and the new leadership presents opportunities for new, innovative policies to be introduced, ensuring Hesse's future growth.
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Enrichment Data: The detailed policy and key points of the black-red coalition agreement between the CDU and SPD in Hesse, Germany, are not explicitly outlined in the provided sources. However, the general context and historical background can be inferred:
- Historical Context: The CDU and SPD have a long history of forming grand coalitions in Germany, including at the federal level. These coalitions often involve a combination of conservative and social democratic policies aimed at maintaining stability and addressing key issues.
- Federal Level: At the federal level, a black-red coalition (CDU/CSU and SPD) is seen as a realistic possibility due to the large polling lead of the CDU/CSU and the willingness of both parties to discuss cooperation.
- Policy Points:
- Economic Policies: The CDU has traditionally favored reducing corporate taxes and benefiting high-income earners, while the SPD has focused on social welfare and infrastructure investment.
- Migration Policy: The CDU/CSU stress their commitment to the fundamental right to asylum but advocate for tighter restrictions on asylum applications and deportation of refugees who have committed crimes in Germany.
- Environmental Policy: The Greens, who are often a potential coalition partner for the SPD, emphasize infrastructure development financed through debt and advocate for a tough values-based approach in foreign policy, including criticism of China and Russia for human rights abuses.
- Social Policy: The SPD has historically focused on core issues like pensions, the minimum wage, and reducing the gap between rich and poor. The Greens support a mandatory minimum pension payout subsidized through increased tax revenue and advocate for raising the minimum wage.
In summary, while secure details of a black-red coalition agreement in Hesse are not provided, the general policy points and historical context suggest that such a coalition would aim to balance conservative economic policies with social democratic welfare initiatives, addressing key regional and national issues.
