The Left party approved the coalition agreement with the SPD and the Greens at its state party conference in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern on Friday. Out of 84 delegates, 77 voted in favor. There were no opposing votes and seven abstentions.
Before the coalition agreement is to be signed on Saturday evening, the SPD and the Greens still need to vote on it at their state party conferences. SPD state chairwoman Manuela Schwesig (SPD) wants to be re-elected as Minister-President on Monday. According to state constitutional law, the deadline for the Minister-President election is November 17.
Left federal chairwoman Ines Schwerdtner congratulated the Left party in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern on “a coalition agreement with a clear left-wing imprint.” She stated that even if money were scarce, those who already have little would not be saved at, saying, “All hospital locations will remain, the Deutschlandticket will become cheaper for all over 14, and the tariff loyalty law will be expanded. This is exactly what people can expect from the Left party,” she said.
“Many had dismissed Mecklenburg-Vorpommern even before the election, but the state has not failed: With this agreement, it will become a red lighthouse on the Baltic Sea,” Schwerdtner added. “Two strong personalities, Kerstin Mieth and Michael Noetzel, are ready for the Ministry of Social Affairs and the Ministry of Justice. Fair social policy is in her blood, and he is the guarantor against the blue wave. Thinking about both of these together can stop the rise of the Right.”
The 135-page coalition agreement of the SPD, Left, and Greens is titled “Cohesion. Confidence. Future. Together for the entire Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.” The three parties have agreed to further develop the concept “Industrial State Mecklenburg-Vorpommern 2030” cross-departmentally into the “Location and Industrial Strategy 2035” and establish a new state development bank. This bank is intended, among other things, to provide low-interest loans for citizen participation in renewable energy projects. Furthermore, it should support families in establishing home ownership and acquiring driving licenses with low-interest loans.
Daycare centers should remain free of fees, and the care ratio should be improved in the nursery to 5 children per staff member and in the after-school program to 21 children per staff member. 600 million euros are to be used for school construction. Trainees should receive a interest-free loan of 1,000 euros to start their first training; the trainee ticket should become a subsidized youth ticket also for pupils and volunteer service providers.
Rot-Rot-Grün explicitly wants hospitals to be maintained. 420 million euros are to be made available to adapt them to the consequences of climate change. According to the coalition agreement, the state administration should become climate neutral by 2030. Swamp floors should not be drained after 2045. Farmers should be supported in the transition to wet swamps. The three parties want 6,200 positions to be filled in the police, while 1,000 personnel positions in the public administration are to be cut. Direct citizen participation should be increased through public surveys and a citizens’ council.
