Fierce dispute over equal treatment law

It is a big project from the coalition agreement: the Equal Treatment Act. Now it could fail. A heated argument is raging among Kretschmann’s Greens.

Stuttgart (dpa/lsw) – It is actually intended to protect discrimination by authorities, but many critics now fear a bureaucratic monster: a heated dispute has broken out among the Greens over the planned equal treatment law, one of the last projects of the green-black state government.

According to SWR information, the head of the State Ministry, Florian Stegmann (Greens), will drop the project, which sparked strong protests among the parliamentary group. Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann (Greens), currently on a trip abroad, felt compelled to make a statement: He made it clear in the evening that he wanted to stick to the law.

In a letter that… SWR and the dpa is available, Stegmann told the Green party leader Andreas Schwarz Previously announced: “Both for fundamental considerations and due to the specific design, I cannot and will not bring the current draft for an equal treatment law into further government approval.” The reason is the bureaucracy associated with the law.

Stegmann is the state’s representative for reducing bureaucracy. In the letter he called for the “implementation of the coalition agreement on this point” to be dispensed with – against the background of the current discussion. The government is confronted with a mood that cannot and should not be ignored, said Stegmann.

Greens horrified: “Friendly fire” from their own ranks?

In the Green party, Stegmann’s initiative caused not only anger but also sheer horror. There was talk of “friendly fire” and an “unprecedented attack in the back”. Stegmann had thus completely disqualified himself; one could not imagine what further trusting cooperation would look like.

The state association of the Greens was also annoyed by Stegmann’s letter. “Especially in these times, it is important to give people who have experienced discrimination security in dealing with state authorities,” emphasized state chairman Pascal Haggenmüller. The law could strengthen trust between citizens, the state and its institutions.

Kretschmann pulls the brakes

Kretschmann is currently on a trip abroad in Southeastern Europe. After a crisis call on the issue, he announced through a spokesman for the State Ministry: “We are continuing to discuss how we can achieve the goals of the Equal Treatment Act effectively and unbureaucratically.” In doing so, the head of government is signaling that the issue is far from over for him.

But resistance to the plan had grown enormously in the past few weeks. The Regulatory Control Council had already expressed enormous concerns in May. He believes the law is unnecessary because it creates new, expensive bureaucracy.

In view of the existing laws and institutions, the Regulatory Control Council, which is responsible for reducing bureaucracy in the country, sees “no need for an equal treatment law”. The local municipal associations and business associations also reject the project.

The CDU parliamentary group initially welcomed Stegmann’s initiative. Administration, politics and business must work together in a spirit of trust, said parliamentary group leader Manuel Hagel. “At the same time, today more than ever it has to be about effectively reducing bureaucracy and not always creating new bureaucracy.” In our view, the Equal Treatment Act has always been in contradiction to these two important goals.” If the coalition partner wants to waive the Equal Treatment Act, that is absolutely right, said Hagel.

Anti-discrimination law was planned in the coalition agreement

But what’s behind it? In the coalition agreement, the Greens and CDU A state anti-discrimination law has been announced so that citizens can more easily defend themselves against discrimination by authorities in the future – at the tax office, in the immigration office or at the police station. The cabinet introduced the law in December last year.

For the first time, the draft could give rise to a legally enshrined claim for damages and compensation for pain and suffering if you are discriminated against by an authority or public body, for example because of your sexual identity or a disability.

The Green Party domestic politician Oliver Hildenbrand is the central driver behind the law. In his view, the government is closing a gap in anti-discrimination law. The law is intended to supplement the federal General Equal Treatment Act, which concerns discrimination in the private sector.

“I’ve been fighting for this law since the coalition negotiations.” And I’m not giving it up,” he said about Stegmann’s letter. “It’s about a central promise that our Basic Law gives to all people in Germany: namely that no one should be disadvantaged because of their origin, gender, religion, language or other characteristics.” He will continue to campaign for this.

Violent reactions in the country

Social associations protested, but business and municipalities instead welcomed Stegmann’s initiative and viewed the law as already completed in their statements. The municipalities spoke of an important step in the right direction.

“A law that sows distrust in the state and public employees would have sent absolutely the wrong signal in these challenging times,” she said. “The law would have further slowed down processes and at some point paralyzed the already heavily overburdened authorities with new requirements,” said Claus Paal from the Baden-Württemberg Association of Chambers of Industry and Commerce. The craft industry also praised the initiative from the State Ministry.

The Baden-Württemberg State Association for People with Physical and Multiple Disabilities protested against this. “Lack of accessibility and derogatory statements are among the most common forms of discrimination against people with disabilities,” says Managing Director Jutta Pagel-Steidl. Only discrimination creates a bureaucratic monster. “The law would be a great opportunity to restore trust in the state, which is currently eroding among many people,” emphasized Martin Gross, regional district manager of the Verdi union.

What happens next after Kretschmann’s announcement remains to be seen.

topicnews · October 1, 2024

Fierce dispute over equal treatment law – Baden-Württemberg

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