Title: Sealing the Deal: CDU and SPD Ink Coalition Agreement in Hesse
In the nail-biting election face-off between CDU's incumbent Rhein and SPD's contender Faeser in Hesse, October witnessed Rhein as the undisputed victor. Now, the rivals are diving headfirst into uncharted waters by forging a joint coalition. A significant stride has been made in this journey: the coalition agreement is in the books.
The CDU and SPD in Hesse have sealed, quite literally, their cooperation deal. A CDU spokesperson confirmed the news. The nearly 200-page draft of this power-sharing pact is christened "One for All." According to the draft, most ministries will fall under the CDU's domain, given their electoral victory. As the junior partner, the SPD is set to boast the Ministry of Economics and Transport, Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, and the Ministry of Science and Culture. The 21st Hessian state parliament, slated for January 18, 2023, in Wiesbaden, will bear witness to this new assembly.
Recent remarks from CDU's Minister President Boris Rhein illustrated the cordial and productive nature of coalition negotiations with the SPD, largely described as 'very constructive' and 'exceptionally pleasant.' The inclusive process involved around 200 participants in over a dozen working groups, proving its worth.
Saturday sees the CDU and SPD cast their ballots on the agreement draft. The Christian Democrats will gather for a state committee meeting in Frankfurt, while the Social Democrats will make their stance known at a party conference in Groß-Umstadt, southern Hesse. Assuming the agreement sails through, the official signing ceremony is slated for Monday, as per Rhein's statement.
For the past decade, Hesse has been under the leadership of a black-green government. CDU emerged victorious by a substantial margin in the state elections on October 8, enabling them to select the Greens or the SPD as potential coalition partners. Post exploratory talks, the CDU decided to discontinue collaboration with the Greens, opting instead for a black-red government alliance. In a twist, SPD’s top candidate, Nancy Faeser, intends to maintain her role as the Federal Minister of the Interior and forgo any relocation to Hesse.
In the realm of German politics, the CDU-SPD coalition agreement in Hesse, marked by key roles for both Boris Rhein and Nancy Faeser, is set to receive the stamp of approval this weekend via party committee votes. As emphasized by Boris Rhein, the negotiation process has proven to be fruitful and harmonious, with numerous working groups playing instrumental roles in crafting the agreement.
