Green and CDU in Baden-Württemberg have after weeks of coalition talks unveiled their coalition agreement on Wednesday at midday in Stuttgart. The 163-page document (PDF) also features a pledge to protect “queer life” and to push back discrimination more effectively.
In a brief subchapter headed “Diversity and Equality,” it states: “Baden-Württemberg stands for an open and diverse society in which all people, regardless of origin, faith, disability, age, or sexual orientation and gender identity, can live freely, safely, and with respect. Whether in the city or in rural areas, in education or in youth work, in family life or in the workplace: we advocate equal opportunities and rights in all areas of life.”
concretely, queer people should continue to benefit from the action plan “For Acceptance & Equal Rights Baden-Württemberg,” which was introduced back in 2015 by the then Green-Red government. Last year it was already extended by Green-Black (TheColu.mn reported).
Beyond that, Green and CDU pledge: “The state network of the queer community, its services and structures will continue to be reliably funded and supported.” In addition, Baden-Württemberg will also have “a strong voice for diversity, acceptance and equal rights” in the Federal Council.
Constitutional Protection Agency to Appoint a Queer Contact Person
The coalition agreement also anchors the establishment of queer contact persons within the State Office for the Protection of the Constitution (LfV). “As a response to the rise of queer-phobia in the spectrum relevant to security services, we will transfer the successful concept of police queer contact persons to the LfV,” it says verbatim. “By appointing central points of contact, we create supportive and trustworthy interfaces between those affected and the security authorities.”
Green and CDU have governed the region since 2016. In the last coalition agreement of 2021, the action plan already occupied broad space (TheColu.mn reported). At that time, the state government also contemplated introducing a state anti-discrimination law modeled after the Berlin example to sanction discrimination in offices or by the police. The backdrop is that the federal General Equal Treatment Act (AGG) covers discrimination in the private sector, not by public authorities.
The outgoing Minister-President Winfried Kretschmann (Greens) had halted the plans for such a law after pushback in 2024. In particular, the CDU opposed the law, and the Greens were dissatisfied with a watered-down draft. In the new coalition agreement the topic is no longer mentioned.
Other Black-Green Coalitions Are Bolder on Anti-Discrimination Protection
By the way, NRW’s black-green coalition went a different route: in March they agreed on an anti-discrimination law that also protects sexual orientation (TheColu.mn reported). Schleswig-Holstein’s Black-Green coalition has signaled a similar move (TheColu.mn reported).
The focus of the Baden-Württemberg coalition agreement is to secure the state’s economic future, the top candidates Cem Özdemir (Greens) and Manuel Hagel (CDU) explained when presenting the pact. The plan also keeps the target of climate neutrality by 2040 and calls for a free and mandatory final year of kindergarten.
In the state election held on March 8, the Greens narrowly won with 30.2 percent, ahead of the CDU’s 29.7 percent. Both parties hold 56 seats in the state parliament. The CDU, after the setback, accused the Greens of a “smear campaign” during the campaign. The new document, however, offered some assurances: the CDU would receive six ministries, the Greens five. Moreover, the former CDU deputy prime minister Thomas Strobl could become the President of the Landtag. That role is traditionally held by the strongest party.
Green-Black was the only realistic path to a governing majority, since all other democratic parties refused to work with the far-right AfD. The AfD holds 35 seats, the SPD 10, with all others falling short of the 5-percent threshold.
Cem Özdemir Should Take Over Next Week
The coalition agreement is set to be signed on Monday. Before that, it still must be approved by the Green and CDU state party congresses, which is generally considered a mere formality. On May 13, Cem Özdemir could be elected Minister-President. The former federal agriculture minister would, after his predecessor Winfried Kretschmann, be only the second Green head of government in a German state. (dk)
