Status: 10/22/2021 11:10 a.m.
In the coalition talks, sticking points are usually mentioned. It is also worth taking a look at what they have in common. The SPD, Greens and FDP are planning some legislative changes that could change the everyday lives of many people.
Chapter 8 is tough. There is hardly any argument about it. It’s not about big money either. But the twelve paragraphs in the exploratory paper have what it takes to start a fire for Greens boss Robert Habeck. For him, social modernization is the “hot core” of the emerging traffic light alliance.
This modernization includes, for example, the right of parentage. Gay and lesbian couples should have the same rights as marriages between men and women. This is especially important for adoptions. For the Green Party politician Claudia Roth it is a matter of adapting the laws to the “reality of a colorful, queer, diverse society”.
New transsexual law
The three traffic light partners also agree to revise the transsexual law. Trans people would then be able to have their name and gender changed more easily. The previous psychological reports are felt by many to be degrading.
Members of the negotiating team point out that this is not just about the estimated 100,000 trans people in Germany, but a symbol for society as a whole.
Not mentioned in the exploratory paper, but largely undisputed among the negotiating partners: Cannabis should be legalized. In addition, paragraph 219a is to be abolished. It bans the advertising of abortions.
Easier naturalizations
FDP leader Christian Lindner also promises that questions about Germany as a country of immigration will be solved with a set of traffic lights. The SPD, Greens and FDP want to change citizenship law, among other things.
Last year almost 110,000 people were naturalized in Germany. So far, people usually have to live here for eight years before they can get a German passport. The traffic light parties want to shorten this period. All three are in favor of multiple nationality – the so-called double pass.
The existing skilled worker immigration law should be handled more practically. In order to attract qualified specialists from abroad, a point system is to be introduced. The economy has been demanding this for years. The change from the asylum procedure to immigration should become easier according to the will of the traffic light partner.
Skilled workers from abroad should be recruited using a point system.
Image: dpa
Voting at the age of 16
SPD General Secretary Lars Klingbeil also hopes that an alliance will make progress with the voting age from 16 and the fight against the right. Associations and initiatives that stand up against extremism and discrimination could rely on permanent funding under a traffic light government – and not, as before, for a limited period of time. It would be a contribution to counteracting a social division.
If the voting age drops to 16 years, around 1.5 million more people could vote in federal elections. Juso boss Jessica Rosenthal therefore defines a “spirit of optimism” in the socio-political part of the exploratory paper.
In order to lower the voting age to 16, however, the Basic Law would have to be changed. This cannot be done without the Union, because that requires a two-thirds majority in the Bundestag.
Many of the traffic light projects have yet to be spelled out in the coalition negotiations. FDP General Secretary Volker Wissing is confident that everything can be clarified promptly and quickly. At least that’s the plan.
Implementing the plans will then take time. The SPD, Greens and FDP, for example, also want to review and reorganize the rules for the police, security authorities and secret services. A mammoth task for years – and probably anything but timely and swift.