Debate about reducing the age: First crisis for the Berlin black-red coalition

Debate about reducing the age: First crisis for the Berlin black-red coalition

The first 100 days of the black-red coalition in Berlin are over. During this time there was actually only trouble because of the poor communication by traffic senator Manja Schreiner in relation to the expansion of bike paths. At first it looked as if the CDU politician wanted to stop the planned expansion of some cycling lanes that were planned under her green predecessor Bettina Jarasch. The bicycle lobby was outraged and the SPD was irritated. Ultimately, however, only a few cycle path projects were put on hold.

After the summer break of the House of Representatives, there is now an issue on the agenda that actually has potential for conflict in the coalition: lowering the age to 16 years for the elections to the House of Representatives. This regulation is already available in five other federal states, including Brandenburg.

In Berlin and elsewhere, many Christian Democrats have been fighting against this idea for many years, and the majority of the CDU parliamentary group is still very enthusiastic about it. At the SPD pressure, however, the voting right reform was included in the coalition agreement. If many CDU parliamentarians are correct, the first crisis in the black and red coalition would be perfect.

Danny Freymark from the CDU said: "Everyone will understand that we will not break into jubilants. But nobody has to worry, the party stands for their word."

In order to facilitate consent to reducing the election age, the CDU plans to strengthen political education. It should be binding that young people visit parliaments more often to promote their political will formation.

At the same time, there should also be more visitors to schools, including Bundeswehr members. The CDU sees the Bundeswehr as an important institution of democracy. So it is planned to lower the election age and implement the opening of the schools for the Bundeswehr.

The Berlin constitution must be changed for reducing the age, which requires a two -thirds majority. This does not seem to be a problem, since the FDP voted for the voting right reform last year. Due to the uncertainty about the legality of the parliamentary elected in the last elections, which arose for repeated the election by the judgment of the Berlin Constitutional Court, the SPD and FDP did not want to change the constitution. In addition to the FDP, the CDU consent is now also required, especially since the AfD remains against the election age 16.

The question of the presence of the Bundeswehr in schools is critically considered by the left in the SPD. In 2019, the Berlin SPD decided that the Bundeswehr should not advertise in schools. The application at that time came from Spandau and was supported by the current parliamentary group and party leader Raed Saleh. Although he had done his military service himself if he had had a German passport after graduating from high school, Saleh believed that "military should not advertise in schools".

Today, however, Saleh is one of the most eager advocates of the element of the element. A corresponding application is expected to be brought in at the first meeting after the summer break on September 7th. His goal is to adopt the reform this year.

It remains to be seen whether the SPD ultimately agrees to the presence of the Bundeswehr in schools. In view of the changed perspective on the national defense since the beginning of the Ukraine secretary, this is not excluded.

The former Greens, which are now in the opposition, will definitely agree to the constitutional change, as Klara Schedlich confirmed the youngest MP at the age of 23. In their opinion, young people who have to live the longest with the consequences of political decisions should also be able to say.