Greens: Merz cabinet must not be a step backwards for the East

Paula Piechotta (Green Party), member of the Bundestag in Leipzig, has criticized the extensive absence of East German politicians in the coalition negotiations between the CDU and SPD in the federal government. Piechotta explained that only one representative from the East was involved in the exploratory talks in both parties, referring to the head of government of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Manuela Schwesig (SPD), and her Saxon counterpart Michael Kretschmer (CDU).

According to Piechotta, the concerns of eastern German regions are not met

For Piechotta, this is "deeply concerning". "Even if the quota of East German politicians in the working groups is marginally better, unpleasant memories of demands made by some CDU politicians come flooding back. Remember that the CDU/CSU said in mid-January that they wanted to abolish the office of Commissioner for Eastern Germany." Now it is clear that the concerns of the regions are not being met.

Merz cabinet must not be a backward cabinet for the East

"Now that the working groups have ended and a cabinet has been formed, we can only hope that East German politicians will also be represented in the top positions and that the Merz cabinet will not be a backward cabinet for East Germany," emphasized Piechotta.

Saxon SPD leader Hennig Homann had already criticized on Monday that no East German was represented in the negotiations in the two working groups on domestic and financial policy. "That is not a good thing." Homann called for two East German ministers in the new federal government. "We must be prepared to take on our own people from the outset," he said.