Turkey’s accession to the EU has been put on hold for the time being
Then not only delegates would have to vote for Nahles – they would have to convince a majority of the party members.
What happens next?
After the coalition negotiations it is before the membership decision. This is what (yet) SPD boss Martin Schulz promised even before the base’s exploratory talks. Only when the vote is through can the SPD sign the coalition agreement with the Union.
When does the membership decision come?
The decision is to take place from February 20th to March 2nd. The following weekend will be counted so that a result can be expected by March 4th.
What exactly will be voted on?
The SPD members receive a ballot slip in the mail. They also receive a printed version of the finished coalition agreement. The members can then decide whether the SPD can conclude a coalition agreement with the Union. You can only answer “yes” or “no”. Participation is voluntary. The vote is binding. The board of directors cannot disregard this.
Who can vote?
All SPD members are entitled to vote, in Germany that is around 450,000 people. Anyone over the age of 14 can become a member. German citizenship is not a requirement. People who were not eligible to vote in the federal election are also allowed to vote.
Members of the Groko-hostile Jusos are only allowed to vote if they are also members of the SPD. Since 1994 this is no longer mandatory. Juso boss Kevin Kühnert advertises that Groko can be prevented by joining the party. However, only those who are members by Tuesday 6 p.m. will be allowed to vote. Around 24,000 people have joined the SPD since January. Across Germany, that’s between 700 and 1,000 – every day.
Who are these SPD members?
The typical SPD member is male, around 60 years old, comes from North Rhine-Westphalia and is a civil servant. This is shown by a look at the age and social structure of the party (see graphic). So anything but a representative average of society decides on the new government. Women – only a third of the members, but half of the electorate – are just as underrepresented in the SPD as young people (8 percent of the members), but elected by around 19 percent of citizens of this age. There is also a big difference between East and West in terms of SPD members and voters. 14.3 percent of East Germans voted for the SPD, but they are only represented with 4.6 percent of the SPD members.
Is such a member decision legal?
This is controversial: four years ago the constitutional court approved the SPD’s membership vote in an urgent procedure. The freedom of choice of the members of the Bundestag was not affected by the vote. A constitutional complaint is not even admissible because it is not a state act. The Constitutional Court has already rejected two out of five applications against the vote.
The former president of the court criticizes, however, that the formation of a government should actually be a matter for the parliamentarians alone. “Membership decisions effectively undermine these constitutional rules of the parliamentary system,” said Hans-Jürgen Papier to the editorial network in Germany.
Constitutional and administrative lawyer Jörn Ipsen, however, has no concerns in an interview with the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung”. “You cannot dictate to a party what form of internal decision-making it undertakes.”
What happens if the coalition agreement is accepted?
If the SPD members give their okay for the coalition agreement, a new government could soon be in place. CSU boss Horst Seehofer had already made it clear last year that a new government should start work by Easter at the latest.
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What if the SPD members vote “no”?
If the SPD members reject the coalition agreement, Germany would face the greatest government crisis of the post-war years.essay on community service benefits Other governments would then be possible, such as a minority government of the CDU – but new elections are considered more likely.
Sources used: own Research Association for Civic Education “Forward” dpa, afp further sources show less sources
The second step has also been taken: the coalition agreement is in place. Merkel is considered a loser, Schulz has achieved a lot, Seehofer is satisfied. And the parties have regained their profile to some extent.
For days it seemed as if there was no progress. For days the Union and the SPD argued about two content-related issues that shouldn’t be so contentious. But then, on Wednesday morning, the news suddenly came: an agreement has been reached. The three parties have laid down what they want to implement together on 177 pages. And who gets which ministries.
Then they stand there, Merkel, Schulz, Seehofer, in the Konrad-Adenauer-Haus, and present the coalition agreement.
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And suddenly everything is reversed. Schulz confidently advertises that the contract bears “social democratic handwriting”. Merkel has to admit that the Union has lost important ministries. Seehofer is satisfied and sums it up: “It’s okay!”
On Tuesday, when a draft coalition agreement was punctured, it seemed as if the SPD was getting tangled up. Then the allocation of the ministries became public, and suddenly the SPD looked like the big winner. Not much remains for the CDU. Merkel is considered a big loser everywhere.
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These interpretations are understandable. But the even more important finding of the negotiations, beyond individual content and the filling of positions, is different.
It means: Union and SPD can work together without merging. Even if it looked long, it took you less than two weeks for the negotiations, you didn’t impose a blockage on your mouth, but still remained largely professional in silence.
It is a question of different parties, as before, not a central unit party. One is distinguishable, even if not fundamentally different.
No left program
The treaty does not contain a left-wing program because the strongest force is clearly still the Union. It is not a left party. However, it does not contain a real program either, because the SPD is still not a small party – and has apparently negotiated well.
There are some things that the comrades wanted: the de facto abolition of the prohibition of cooperation, more money for education, a commitment to solidarity between EU states also in budgetary issues, a restriction on arms exports, an expansion of care, the promised efforts, training and Making day-care centers cheaper and a slight improvement in the rental price brake.
Economy / digitization / transport Structurally weak regions are to be promoted Bureaucracy is to be reduced – this is to strengthen the start-up culture Social contributions should not rise above 40 percent After CETA, the focus is on trade with Africa Because of digitization: Antitrust law is modernized A gigabit network is to be set up by 2025 (Cost: 10 – 12 billion euros) Citizens are to communicate with the administration on a standardized portal Driving bans for diesel should be avoided E-cars receive funding – dirty diesels should be retrofitted Labor market / labor law The goal is full employment Subsidized jobs for 150,000 long-term unemployed – Costs: One billion euros of employment contracts can no longer be limited after five years t be – with restrictions Unemployment insurance contributions are reduced by 0.3 percent after three months the unemployed are entitled to further training after three months Planning security for people should be improved despite fixed-term contracts Right to limited participation in companies with 45 or more employees – with restrictions family / women / children Child benefit will be increased by 25 euros per month Legal entitlement to full-day care in primary schools There will be no free daycare centers Children’s rights will be included in the Basic Law 50 percent quota of women should become a reality in management positions in the public service by 2025 Women’s shelters are to be renovated, and women will have to pay for accommodation Education / Research National Education Council is to coordinate investments in ailing schools, a change to the constitution is necessary for this – school sovereignty remains with the federal states Bafög reform should more students finance their studies A minimum wage should also be binding for education 3.5 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP currently 3.467 trillion euros) should be spent on research and development Pension Statutory pension is guaranteed until 2025 at the current level of 48 percent People who have 35 years have worked, raised children or cared for relatives, receive a 10 percent higher pension than the regional basic security.The self-employed must pay into the pension fund.Minimum contributions for those with health insurance should be reduced. Mothers who gave birth to more than two children before 1992 can have a third year of upbringing can be counted towards the pension Health / care workers – and employers should pay the health insurance in equal parts again Nursing staff receive more money, 8,000 caregivers should be hired promptly Children of people in need of care only have to care for their parents with an income of 100,000 euros or more rn aufkommen Central telephone number for doctor’s appointments will be set up Finances and taxes Germany will not take on any new debts The solos will be abolished There should be no tax increases for citizens The withholding tax on interest income will be abolished By 2021, the federal government wants to spend 1.392 trillion euros domestic policy / consumer protection Federal and state governments 7500 new police officers are to get each, 2000 judiciary posts are to be dismissed by the courts. No-go areas in cities are to disappear. Net neutrality is to be guaranteed. Migration / integration Family reunification is capped to 1000 people per month. Central refugee camps are to take care of registration and distribution and take care of the expulsion of asylum seekers Algeria, Morocco and others are determined to be safe countries of origin Housing / Rent 60,000 social housing are to be built – Financing framework: 2 billion euros rent brake remains as it is Amount of where Money should be adjusted to the actual rent Modernization should not lead to disproportionate rent increases Structurally weak areas should be promoted Agriculture Use of glyphosate should be reduced Organic meat should be better labeled Male chicks should no longer be shredded Climate / Environment Climate target 2020 will not be achieved, gap but should be as small as possible coal electricity should be gradually reduced Energy supply consists of at least 65 percent green electricity by 2030 New wind and solar systems should deliver electricity comparable to four nuclear power plants Foreign policy / Bundeswehr Development aid spending is increased Federal armed forces deployments in Northern Iraq, Afghanistan and Mali to be continued Turkey’s accession to the EU will be temporarily put on hold. No arms exports to countries participating in the Yemen war