German Federal Minister of Family Affairs Karin Prien, a CDU member, expressed support for the International Women’s Strike scheduled for March 9. She pointed to the 1970 strike in Iceland, which she said sparked significant progress in gender‑equality policy, and acknowledged that while striking may not be her preferred method, it is an understandable way for women to make a statement.
Prien noted that the current labor law, which allows strikes only under a trade‑union umbrella, does not obstruct such actions. “If a group wants to make a point, the measure is all the more effective when it is willing to accept the consequences” she said, praising the courage of the women involved.
The minister recalled the Basic Law’s mandates on gender equality, emphasizing that implementing equality is a constitutional obligation rather than merely the wish of feminist activists. She highlighted that women have achieved important gains-greater access to education and university studies, and better representation on corporate boards. However, she stressed that women remain underrepresented in company boards, senior leadership positions, and in terms of fair pay. At the parliamentary level, women are still insufficiently represented in the federal, state, and municipal legislatures.
Prien also criticized recent setbacks in female representation. “In the Bundestag we now have fewer women than before the last election” she said. While attributing some of this decline to the AfD, she urged all parties to keep gender balance in view. To support women in politics, she called for family‑friendly work conditions: predictable meeting schedules, reliable child care, and better compatibility between parliamentary duties and family life.
She emphasized the importance of debating the unresolved question of adequate representation and of seriously evaluating constitutional‑compliant proposals for increasing parity in parliament. When asked whether equality is a heart‑and‑mind issue for Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Prien affirmed this perception-highlighting that he had enforced a quota within the party, an effort she believes would not have succeeded without him.