Designated Federal Education Minister Karin Prien (CDU) calls for unity and respect in the prospective black-red coalition.
Prien, who is currently the Minister of Education in Schleswig-Holstein, spoke to the “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland” about the importance of maintaining respect and unity within the coalition. She emphasized that it would be crucial for coalition partners to show that they can resolve potential differences internally and demonstrate respect for one another.
Regarding the disagreement between CDU leader Friedrich Merz and SPD General Secretary Matthias Miersch over whether the minimum wage should be increased to 15 euros in 2026 or 2027, Prien downplayed the debate. She noted that the formulation in the coalition agreement would be interpreted differently not only within politics but also between employees and employers. “It is ultimately a negotiation process that reflects the public debate” said Prien.
She added that she would like to see more focus on what unites people in Germany, rather than always highlighting differences and causing outrage. Prien believes that this could be a good recommendation for all parties involved.