When the coalition agreement was presented in Berlin in the afternoon, Scholz, Habeck and Lindner themselves spoke of an ambitious program. Not the lowest common denominator should be found – instead, a new start is called for. It is already clear that it will not be easy.
The mood is solemn when Olaf Scholz and the party leaders of his SPD, the Greens and the FDP step onto the Berlin stage. The prospective chancellor mentions the first traffic light that was erected on Potsdamer Platz in Berlin in the 1920s. “Can that work?” Was what people would have said at the time, according to Scholz. But today the traffic light is indispensable.
He has similar plans for the future federal government. To achieve this, he would have to implement as much of his ambitious program as possible. It is noticeable that the SPD has prevailed strongly in social policy, the Greens above all on social issues – and also in climate and economic policy, which are now rarely thought of separately. For the FDP, on the other hand, party leader Christian Lindner emphasizes that Germany remains an “advocate of solid finances”. He and the Greens chairman Robert Habeck are responsible for the big rhetorical gestures. Here is an overview of the “document of courage”, as Habeck calls the coalition agreement.
Social
With the Increase in the minimum wage to 12 euros Scholz and the SPD redeem a key election promise. Ten million people are said to have more money in their wallets. At the same time they should Pensions will remain stable and the entry age will not increase any further will. This should also be possible with the entry into fully funded financing. A permanent fund is to be equipped with a start-up capital of ten billion euros.
Also in the Housing issue tries to deliver the SPD. The rent brake will be extended until 2029. In regions with “tight markets”, rents should only be allowed to increase by 11 percent within three years. Up to now, 15 percent was possible. The rules for qualified rent index – which are used to determine local comparative rents – are to be revised. In municipalities with more than 100,000 inhabitants, qualified rent indexes are to be made mandatory. This sentence makes you sit up and take notice: “We have set ourselves the goal of 2030 Homelessness and homelessness to overcome and set up a National Action Plan for it. “
For the first time since 1998 it should have its own Federal Ministry of Construction give. The building division has been part of the Ministry of the Interior since 2018. The building department is occupied by the SPD, the previous environment minister, Svenja Schulze, is under discussion as minister. In the coalition agreement, the SPD, Greens and FDP set the goal 400,000 apartments per year to build, including 100,000 social housing. It will be exciting to see whether that will work. Up until now, rapid residential construction has also failed due to a shortage of skilled workers and numerous regulations – which did not exist a few decades ago, when the 400,000 mark was already reached.
The Conversion of Hartz IV into a citizen’s benefit wanted the SPD and the Greens alike. What is different is that in the first two years, the assets do not have to be taken into account. In addition, the protective capacity should be increased. Specifically, this means that those affected do not first have to terminate their home loan and savings contracts or life insurance policies, for example, before there is money from the state. Everything should be easier, more digital and less bureaucratic. Those affected should be met “at eye level”. It can be clearly felt that stigmatization should be avoided.
That the Renewable energy surcharge abolished to lower the high electricity price in Germany has been discussed for a long time. What is more surprising is that it is no increase in the CO2 tax will give. The costs for fuel, heating oil or gas are currently so high that they want to do without them for social reasons. This shows that the social takes precedence over climate protection. That could be due to the SPD, but the Greens are also trying to reconcile both. The one they advertised during the election campaign “Climate money” is indicated in the contract – but it is still to be “developed”. So what exactly that will look like is not yet clear.
Climate and economy
Annalena Baerbock, head of the Greens, said at the presentation of the contract that climate protection, the goal of CO2 neutrality had run through all political areas – “like a red thread”. But this is particularly noticeable in the economy. The goal stands out, if possible already Coal phase-out in 2030 to create and until then too 80 percent of the electricity comes from renewable energies to acquire. Both goals are quite ambitious. The need for green electricity will rise rapidly if industry is to get by without coal and gas. It should come primarily from wind turbines, for them two percent of the area should be used in Germany. Also should New buildings with solar roofs if possible be equipped. These were all demands of the Greens.
But it will be exciting to see how all of this is to be financed. The Greens say not to change direction now will be much more expensive in the long term. But bills still have to be paid today – and that without new taxes. Because with this core demand, the FDP has prevailed. “Germany remains an advocate of solid finances,” said party leader Lindner. It could have been painful for the FDP End of the internal combustion engine in 2030 to agree. In order to end the fossil fuel age, we will “leave this technology behind”, it says in the treaty. Whereby, that is vaguely phrased, presumably quite deliberately. The Greens had called for a ban, the FDP was against it. Probably the last word has not yet been spoken. Hand in hand with that goes the goal that around 15 million electric cars by 2030 should drive on German roads. Incidentally, as already known, no speed limit on the motorway. For this, the pace of approval would have to increase significantly.
There are also detailed measures: The existing one tax regulation of the home office for employees is to be extended and evaluated until the end of 2022. At the moment, employees can charge 5 euros per day in the home office, with a maximum of 600 euros per year. However, the sum is one of the advertising costs, for which all taxpayers are charged a flat rate of 1000 euros anyway. Only those who spend more than 1000 euros here benefit from the special rule. So far, it was limited to the years 2020 and 2021 and was due to the corona pandemic.
A Right to work from home there will not be, but the traffic light parties want to give employees “in suitable activities” a “right to discuss mobile work and home office”. “Employers can only contradict the wishes of the employees if there are operational issues,” says the coalition agreement. A rejection should not be “irrelevant or arbitrary”.
Outside and Defense
Not everything will change, there will be continuity, said Lindner: “The Federal Republic of Germany will be a reliable one Partners remain in the western alliance, in the European Union and in the community of democratic constitutional states in the world. “The likely next foreign minister set a slightly different accent. The new federal government wants to” return to an active European foreign policy, “said Baerbock. The coalition agreement states: “As the largest member state, we will assume our special responsibility in a serving understanding for the EU as a whole.”
Russia is in the coalition agreement as Partner and problem shown. “We want to work more closely with Russia on future issues (e.g. hydrogen, health) and in overcoming global challenges (e.g. climate, environment),” says the coalition agreement. At the same time, the traffic light parties criticize “the comprehensive restriction of civil and democratic freedoms”. The Russian government is called upon to allow civil society “unhindered contact with German partners”.
the Armament of drones should be made possible. The issue was contentious between the Union and the SPD in the last legislative period. The traffic light parties have now agreed that armed drones should “help protect soldiers on deployments abroad”. That is quite surprising because there were reservations not only in the SPD but also in the Greens. So-called extrajudicial killings by drones are expressly excluded.
society
As already known, the traffic light coalition wants “the controlled one Distribution of cannabis to adults for pleasure in licensed shops “. This will control the quality, prevent the transfer of contaminated substances and ensure the protection of minors. The relevant law is to be reviewed after four years.
That Ban on advertising for abortion should be abolished. “Doctors should be able to provide public information about abortions without having to fear prosecution. We are therefore deleting Section 219a of the Criminal Code.”
Accompanied Driving from 16 should be made possible nationwide. The monopoly in driving license tests is to be lifted “while maintaining the applicable quality standards”. Depending on the federal state, TÜV or Dekra are currently responsible for the test.
But that’s not all that non-adults will be allowed to do in the future. That too The voting age will be reduced to 16 years – this should apply to European and Bundestag elections. Baerbock said the coalition agreement wanted to focus particularly on children and young people. Your party should benefit from it. But not only: In the federal election in September, the Greens and FDP had the most young voters.
That Citizenship Law should be changed so that multiple citizenship is possible and the path to German citizenship is simplified. “As a rule, naturalization should be possible after five years, with special integration achievements after three years.” For members of the guest worker generation, the hurdles to German citizenship are to be lowered “in recognition of their lifetime achievement”.
That Transsexual Act should be abolished and replaced by a “self-determination law”. The new regulation is pending because the Federal Constitutional Court had classified parts of the Transsexual Act as unconstitutional. However, the Union and the SPD were unable to find a compromise on this issue. The traffic light is striving for a procedure “that basically makes changes to the gender entry in the civil status possible by self-disclosure”. The blood donation ban for homosexual men and trans people is also to be abolished.
Of course, there is more to the 177-page coalition agreement. The entire work can be viewed here.