Germania

State Election Brandenburg 2024

Bündnis90/Grüne

BVB/Freie Wähler

Deutsch Land Wirtschaft

Die Linke

III. Weg

Plus Brandenburg

Tierschutzpartei

WerteUnion

The minimum wage is the statutory minimum amount that employees must earn per hour. An increase to 14 euros would improve the income situation of many and reduce poverty. However, critics warn of financial burdens for small and medium-sized companies, job losses and higher prices. They also fear that fewer low-skilled workers will be hired.

So far, Bremen is the only federal state to have a fund into which all companies pay and from which companies that provide training are supported. It would have a similar effect if companies had to pay a penalty if they did not provide training. This is intended to make it more attractive for companies to take on trainees, as they would otherwise receive less money or have to pay fines. Criticism comes mainly from the companies themselves: The bureaucratic burden is disproportionately high.

The idea is to only award public contracts to companies that pay according to or above collective agreements. This is intended to promote fair working conditions. Supporters say that this will prevent wage dumping and ensure fair wages. Opponents fear that competition will be restricted and the costs of public projects increased. They say that smaller companies that cannot afford collectively agreed wages would be disadvantaged and therefore have less chance of winning contracts.

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Germany and other Western countries have imposed comprehensive sanctions against Russia, including trade restrictions and the freezing of Russian assets. Some are calling for the sanctions to be lifted to allow cheaper gas supplies from Russia. This could also create the basis for new negotiations to end the conflict. Opponents of lifting the sanctions emphasize that they are an important means of exerting pressure on Russia to make political changes. Maintaining the sanctions sends a strong signal against violations of international law and military aggression and contributes to security and stability in Europe.

Permanent border controls with Poland and the Czech Republic are intended to increase security and prevent illegal entry. Supporters say that this will help to curb crime and smuggling. Opponents criticize that such controls would impair the movement of goods and tourism and cause high costs. They see this as a return to closed borders within Europe, which contradicts the idea of the EU.

LGBTQ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer and encompasses various sexual orientations and gender identities. The question is whether Brandenburg should actively contribute to education about sexual diversity through school programs in order to promote acceptance and tolerance, or whether this is solely a matter for parents. Advocates say that education about sexual diversity helps to ensure that different lifestyles are accepted and tolerated. They say that education can help break down prejudice and discrimination and make LGBTQ young people feel accepted and understood. Opponents say that parents should decide what is taught to children on this topic. They believe that children will become confused if they are confronted with the topic too early. They also believe that schools should focus on traditional content and that sexual orientation education is not as important.

A ban on smartphones in elementary school is intended to reduce distractions and negative influences on children. Supporters argue that this would promote concentration and social interaction. Opponents, on the other hand, see the ban as unrealistic and emphasize that the use of digital media should be learned at an early age. They argue that it would be better to integrate the sensible use of smartphones into lessons.

The right to vote for non-EU citizens in local elections is intended to promote their political participation and integration. Supporters argue that these people have often lived in Germany for a long time and are affected by local political decisions. Opponents argue that the right to vote should remain linked to citizenship and fear that this would otherwise dilute national sovereignty. They argue that naturalization is the right path to full political participation.

In Brandenburg, there is no obligation to bring your own children to daycare centres. Some are now calling for the German language skills of young children to be tested and for the last year of nursery school before primary school to be made compulsory if their knowledge of the language is too poor. Opponents believe that the state's intervention goes too far and that the decision lies solely with the parents. Those in favour argue that children would have better chances at school if they could learn the language of instruction beforehand.

In Brandenburg, citizens have the opportunity to get involved in the political process beyond elections. The direct democracy procedure in Brandenburg consists of three stages: People's Initiative, Referendum and Referendum.

People's initiative: Citizens can launch a people's initiative to call on the state parliament to deal with a specific issue. This requires 20,000 signatures in Brandenburg.

Referendum: If the state parliament rejects the proposal of the popular initiative or does not deal with it within four months, a referendum can be initiated. For this, the signatures of 80,000 eligible voters must be collected within six months.

Plebiscites : If the state parliament also rejects the petition for a referendum, a plebiscite can be held. This plebiscite is successful if the majority of those voting are in favour and this majority represents at least 25% of those eligible to vote. Higher quorums are required for constitutional amendments.

Some citizens in Brandenburg feel that the hurdles for referendums and plebiscites are too high and are calling for a reduction in the number of signatures required or an extension of the collection periods in order to give citizens more say between elections. Others, however, are in favour of the high requirements as they believe that the elected representatives in parliament should make most of the decisions.

The question of whether energy supply should be in public hands concerns the control and management of energy sources and grids by the state. Those in favour argue that a public authority can guarantee security of supply and fair prices. This could also lead to greater consideration of environmental and social standards. Opponents fear that state control will lead to inefficiency and bureaucratic burdens. They argue that private companies are more innovative and competitive, which can lead to better services and lower prices in the long term.

Electricity is generated from a variety of energy sources. The fossil fuel coal is also used to produce electricity in Germany and Thuringia. The use of coal as an energy source until at least 2038 is a controversial issue. Supporters of this measure argue that coal-fired power plants ensure a stable and reliable energy supply, especially during the transition period to renewable energies. They emphasize that a premature phase-out of coal-fired power generation could jeopardize jobs and affect economic stability in regions with coal mining and power generation. Opponents, on the other hand, point to the considerable environmental impact of burning coal, such as the high CO2 emissions and the associated climate impact. They are calling for a rapid phase-out of coal-fired power generation in order to reduce the negative health effects of air pollution and combat climate change.

Land transfer tax is payable when buying a property or land. It is added to the purchase price and varies from state to state. In Saxony, it is 5.5 percent. Supporters of abolishing it say that it would make buying a property easier and reduce the cost of home ownership. This would be a real financial relief for first-time buyers and young families. If the land transfer tax is abolished, it could boost the real estate market and promote housing construction. This would ease the housing situation in the long term. Opponents say that the land transfer tax is an important source of income for the federal states. It is used to finance public tasks and infrastructure projects. They say that abolishing the tax could lead to financial bottlenecks. Either cuts would have to be made in other areas or new taxes would be introduced. They also believe that the land transfer tax curbs speculative purchases and an overheated real estate market.

The debt brake, which severely limits new government borrowing, has been a controversial topic for years. Supporters of its abolition argue that in times of low interest rates and urgent investment needs in areas such as climate protection, digitalization and education, the strict rules of the debt brake are a hindrance. They see flexibilization as an opportunity to make necessary investments in the future and thus promote long-term economic growth. However, opponents of the abolition warn against an uncontrolled debt policy that could burden future generations and jeopardize the financial stability of the state. They emphasize that the debt brake promotes discipline in budgetary policy and thus ensures sound public finances in the long term.

The broadcasting fee to finance public service broadcasting must be paid by everyone who is registered in Germany. Currently, every household has to pay 18.36 euros per month to finance television or radio stations and other forms of public service broadcasting. Some are calling for the broadcasting fee to be abolished altogether: they want to decide for themselves which formats they spend their money on and criticize the broadcasters' behaviour in the past. However, opponents of such a move argue that public service broadcasting is necessary to ensure independent journalism. This is only possible with financial security.

A committee of inquiry into the coronavirus measures in Saxony is to review and evaluate the decisions and measures taken during the pandemic. Supporters say that a transparent review is important in order to learn from possible mistakes and strengthen trust in politics. Opponents fear that such a committee could be politically motivated and take up a lot of time and resources without providing any new insights. They argue that the existing mechanisms for evaluation are sufficient.

The idea that work in schools should make up half of the teacher training course means that trainee teachers would gain more practical experience. Many feel that this would improve the practical and pedagogical skills of student teachers. It would enable them to apply theoretical knowledge directly in everyday school life and prepare them better for the profession. However, others fear that this could be at the expense of theoretical training and scientific foundations. They argue that sound theoretical training is necessary in order to meet the complex demands of the teaching profession.

The police want to carry out more unprovoked checks in problem districts in order to combat crime and improve residents' sense of security. Some say that these measures help to prevent crime and react quickly to dangers. They believe that this is a good way of maintaining public order in particularly affected areas. Others say that such measures restrict the personal rights and freedom of citizens. They believe that this could lead to discrimination and mistrust of the police and would not have the desired effect.

Government funding for local journalism is intended to ensure the diversity and quality of reporting. Supporters say that this is particularly important in the face of declining income from advertising and subscriptions. Critics fear that state funding could jeopardise the independence of the media. They argue that this could lead to exertion of influence and restricted press freedom.

The cultivation of genetically modified plants is controversial. Those in favour of GM-free agriculture say that it better protects nature and biodiversity. Opponents argue that genetically modified plants offer higher yields, resistance to pests and diseases and lower pesticide use. These advantages could secure the food supply and reduce land consumption.

Those in favour of limiting the reception of refugees say that municipalities are at the limits of their capacity for accommodation and integration measures. They fear that the social welfare system will be overburdened and that there could be security risks. Opponents of a limit point to the emergency situation in overcrowded refugee camps, such as on the Greek island of Lesbos. They say that Germany and the federal states have an ongoing humanitarian responsibility.

A traditional family consists of a mother, father and children. Since 2017, same-sex couples have also been allowed to marry in Germany. Many couples also no longer marry, do not have children or live in patchwork families. Some are in favour of these developments. Others believe that the traditional family should be promoted more strongly. In their opinion, policy should therefore be orientated towards this as a guideline.

Climate neutrality means not releasing any climate-damaging greenhouse gases or at least offsetting them. This can be achieved through reforestation or carbon storage, for example. Germany aims to be climate-neutral by 2045. Supporters hope that this will enable the 2015 climate targets to be achieved. Opponents fear that necessary measures such as a ban on combustion engines could damage the economy.

The rewetting of moorland has ecological and economic aspects. Proponents say that this is important for climate protection. Moors store a lot of carbon and can reduce greenhouse gases when rewetted. They promote biodiversity and improve water quality. Opponents fear economic disadvantages such as the loss of agricultural land. These are important for food production and farmers' incomes. The loss could reduce production and bring disadvantages. The question is whether the benefits justify the costs and the loss of arable land.

The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution uses confidants - so-called V-Leute. These people move in extremist circles and report to the domestic intelligence service. Supporters say that informers are often the only way to gain insights into criminal structures. Opponents criticise the fact that V-Leute operate in a legal grey area. It is often unclear which activities are covered by law and what happens if they commit criminal offences to avoid attracting attention.

At the moment, cars are allowed to drive at 50 km/h in urban areas. Opponents of the 30 km/h limit say that the desired noise reduction depends heavily on engine noise. They claim that at 30 km/h, the noise is hardly any different from that at 50 km/h in fourth gear. There is no statistical evidence of increased road safety. Proponents argue that a shorter braking distance at 30 km/h increases road safety.

The opening of supermarkets on Sundays has economic and social aspects. Those in favour say that this offers more flexibility and convenience when shopping, especially for working people and families. They see positive economic effects through additional revenue and jobs. Opponents warn of negative effects on the work-life balance of employees and pressure on small retailers. They emphasise the importance of Sundays as a day of rest for recreation and social life.

The introduction of an East German quota would ensure that at least half of new employees in the public sector come from East Germany. Supporters say that this quota is necessary to compensate for the historical disadvantage and underrepresentation of East Germans. They believe this would be a step towards promoting equal opportunities and better representing the East German population. It could also reduce regional inequalities and strengthen trust in state institutions. Opponents fear that such a quota could lead to discrimination based on origin and undermine meritocratic principles in selection. They say that jobs in the public sector should be filled according to qualifications and skills, regardless of origin. In addition, implementation could pose legal challenges and be perceived as unfair.

In 2022, almost 2.5 million vertebrates and cephalopods were used for scientific purposes in Germany. Mice and rats make up the largest group at around 90%. Animal rights activists are calling for an end to animal testing, arguing that the results cannot be transferred to humans. Opponents argue that the complexity of whole organisms is necessary to test all the effects of a substance.

The receipt of income support (Bürgergeld) by Ukrainian refugees is controversial. Opponents say that the welfare system is overburdened and resources for the local population could become scarce. They fear that the generous welfare state will incentivise an increase in the number of refugees. Supporters emphasise Germany's humanitarian obligation and the need to help people fleeing war and persecution. They say that social benefits facilitate integration and promote social participation and access to the labour market in the long term.

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