Government
Hesse: Coalition agreement could be in place on December 18th
“My life experience, my political experience shows that there is nothing worse than joining a coalition after you have subjugated your partner before it,” says Boris Rhein (CDU). photo
© Arne Dedert/dpa
In Hesse, Prime Minister Rhein sees the coalition talks between the CDU and SPD on the right track. He describes it as “exactly right” to have brought many participants on board during the negotiations.
The coalition negotiations between the CDU and SPD According to Prime Minister Boris Rhein (CDU), Hesse are on the home stretch. Details are currently being worked out, and the possible alliance partners are expected to vote on the paper at party conferences on December 16th. “And then I’m assuming that we can sign a coalition agreement on December 18th. That’s the goal anyway,” said Rhein to the German Press Agency in Wiesbaden.
In the past decade, Hesse was led by a black-green government. The CDU clearly won the state election on October 8th, after which it was able to comfortably choose between the Greens and the SPD as coalition partners. After exploratory talks, the Union decided to no longer work with the Greens but to strive for a black-red government alliance. The new Hessian state parliament will be constituted on January 18th.
Rhein told the dpa that the coalition negotiations were “very constructive and the atmosphere was exceptionally pleasant.” The broad process with around 200 participants in more than a dozen working groups has proven successful. The decision was consciously made not to retreat somewhere with “10 or 20 people”, but was also relying on the suggestions of many responsible people in the party, including mayors and district administrators. “This isn’t just some make-a-wish program, but it’s really the renaissance of realpolitik,” said Rhein.
Limiting migration
Negotiations were held on an equal footing with the SPD as a possible junior partner in a new state government. “We didn’t say we have almost 35 percent and you have a little more than 15 percent. And that is the balance of power that must also be reflected politically,” emphasized Rhein. “My life experience, my political experience shows that there is nothing worse than joining a coalition after you have subjugated your partner before it.” Such behavior always takes revenge.
Regarding the contents of the coalition agreement, Rhein referred to the key issues paper that the CDU and SPD presented after the exploratory rounds. In it, the possible coalition partners commit to limiting migration as well as more police positions and financial support for the first home they own. In addition, a separate ministry for agriculture and forestry as well as viticulture, hunting and homeland is to be created.