“At eye level” in Hesse
CDU and SPD seal new government coalition
December 18, 2023, 4:11 p.m
The future black-red government alliance is dry about ten weeks after the Hessian state elections. The CDU and SPD chose a special location for the signature. The focus of the contract includes, among other things, education, families, migration and the economy.
The new black-red government alliance in Hesse is finalized. The Prime Minister and CDU state chairman Boris Rhein as well as the SPD state leader and Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser signed the coalition agreement in Wiesbaden. It is a coalition for all Hessians, confirmed Rhein.
“We want to strengthen the majority and the middle of society, but of course we also want to protect minorities,” he said. Faeser added that people are living “in very special times” in the face of numerous crises. That’s why stability and social security are important. “And this coalition agreement expresses that,” said the SPD state leader. “We care about the issues that interest people.” These included good education and employee rights.
The negotiations were very intensive, constructive and, above all, confidential, said Rhein. Faeser thanked him for negotiations “on an equal footing” despite the poor SPD result. Faeser, who was the SPD’s top candidate, wants to remain Federal Interior Minister and not move to Hesse. The new state parliament will meet for its constituent session on January 18th.
The CDU and SPD invited people to the new building of the not yet opened Reinhard Ernst Museum to sign the coalition agreement. “The location couldn’t have been chosen better,” said Faeser. He stands for something new, modern and transparent. “Everyone who comes in here senses that something new is happening,” said Rhein. This also speaks for the coalition.
Last weekend, the CDU and SPD decided on the government program for the years 2024 to 2029 at their respective party conferences. The 184-page contract bears the motto “One for all”. While there was a high level of approval of more than 99 percent among the Christian Democrats, the vote among the SPD was preceded by a controversial discussion. Ultimately, almost 82 percent of the SPD delegates voted for the paper. It is the first Christian-social coalition in Hesse under the leadership of the CDU.
“We want to create new cohesion”
In the state elections on October 8th, the Social Democrats received 15.1 percent of the votes, the CDU received more than twice as many at 34.6 percent. The parties initially met for five weeks for exploratory talks and then discussed the coalition agreement for around four weeks. The new state parliament in Wiesbaden will be constituted on January 18th. For the past ten years, Hesse has been governed by a black-green coalition.
A new chapter is being opened for Hesse’s Social Democrats and Christian Democrats, said Rhein. “We want to create a new cohesion.” According to the head of government, the focal points of the contract include, among other things, education, families, the rule of law, migration and integration as well as the economy, agriculture and health care. In times of multiple crises, people have a right to parties dealing with their problems and presenting solutions, the Prime Minister emphasized. “This contract provides a good basis for that.”