A preview of post-Merkel Germany

topic:	Democracy
located:	Germany
editor:	Abby Klinkenberg

After 16 years under Angela Merkel and the centre-right Christian Democratic Party (CDU), Germany will officially enter a new political era under a new three-party governing coalition before the year is out.

The centre-left Social Democrats (SDP), environmentalist Greens, and neoliberal Liberal Democrats (FPD) revealed their coalition pact on 24 November, nearly two months after coalition negotiations began following the German federal election on 26 September. Under the agreement, the SPD’s Olaf Schultz will take on Germany’s chancellorship while the Green Party leaders Annalena Baerbach and Robert Habeck will take on the positions of foreign minister and energy and economy minister, respectively, while FPD-leader Christian Linder will become Germany’s finance minister.

Outlining the plans for what will be Germany’s first ever three-party government, the 177 page coalition deal arrived earlier than expected given the tensions inherent in the three parties’ political agendas. The coalition, which promises to usher in a ‘modern’ era in Germany, has proposed a number of policies that will extend new rights to the German public, particularly in the domains of immigration and LGBTQ+ rights.

Germany’s tiresome and outdated immigration systems have been long overdue for a revamp – the new government seeks to address many of its longstanding issues by making it easier to acquire German citizenship. Currently, dual citizenship is not possible in the vast majority of cases; those who would like to acquire German citizenship are expected to renounce their previous nationality. Crucially, the next government plans to change this rule, easing access to citizenship for millions. Additionally, a new points-based immigration system will be put into place that is intended to “draw in qualified workers.”

The three parties have also worked together to arrive at comprehensive reforms to the country’s current refugee policies. In addition to extending rights to family reunification and halting the construction of so-called ‘anchor centres’ that house migrants, Germany will commit itself to speeding up asylum procedures in the country and advocating regulatory reform at the EU-level. However, despite these marked improvements, Germany’s new government will still rely on measures from the past: alongside a renewed emphasis on encouraging voluntary return, deportations will continue.

In addition to these robust developments in the domain of immigration, the new coalition seeks to bolster the rights of Germany’s queer community. At a moment when LGBTQ+ rights are facing major challenges across Europe, it will be meaningful for Germany to take bold steps in the right direction.

As part of a massive policy overhaul aimed at advancing queer rights, the new coalition promises to take transgender people’s rights seriously, first and foremost by affording trans people the right to self-identify. Under current legislation, trans folks must comply with rigorous legal and medical verification regulations that entail considerable bureaucratic, logistical and psychological burdens. Acknowledging the failings of previous policies, the new government has committed itself to remunerating trans people for the harm caused by such processes in the past. It is also significant to note that, moving forward, German insurance will fully fund gender reassignment surgeries.

Additionally, there will be a total ban on gay conversion therapy and laws prohibiting gay and bisexual men (and trans people) from donating blood will be lifted. These measures breathe new life into the queer community’s struggle for recognition; after 16 years under Merkel’s Christian-inflected chancellorship, true progress is being made.

Other honorable mentions in terms of the coalition’s political promises include the legalisation of marijuana, raising the minimum wage to 12 euros per hour, bringing forward Germany’s exit from coal from 2038 to 2030, and lowering the voting age from 18 to 16.

While most of these reforms are frankly long overdue, movement on these issues at least sets Germany moving in the right direction. While it is really the bare minimum to extend fundamental rights to migrants and the queer community, after over a decade of social stagnation, we’re witnessing Germany’s entrance to the 21st century. Herzlich willkommen!

Photo by Martin Fahlander

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