In Berlin, negotiations between the German Union, comprising the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Christian Social Union (CSU), and the Social Democratic Party (SPD) have intensified as leaders address multiple pressing policy issues.

These negotiations follow extensive discussions in various working groups, where a consensus is necessary on contentious topics, notably migration policy, which has been highlighted in political discourse leading up to recent elections.

Bärbel Bas, a prominent SPD figure involved in the negotiations, noted the challenging nature of the discussions.

The next rounds of talks will take place at the SPD's headquarters, the Willy-Brandt-Haus, focusing on 16 comprehensive documents crafted by specialist working groups.

The Union has proposed significant revisions to migration policy, referred to as a 'Migrationswende,' or migration turnaround.

CDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann stated that effective governance requires a coalition partner that aligns with their migration objectives, suggesting that without a solid consensus, the feasibility of governing would be at risk.

Among the proposed reforms, the Union advocates for expanding the list of safe origin countries and implementing enhanced measures for the deportation of serious offenders.

The Union further aims to remove the legal obligation for representation during deportation processes and intends to broaden criteria for detaining individuals prior to deportation.

However, many of these measures remain under negotiation.

For instance, plans to establish federal repatriation centers at airports and to outsource asylum procedures to third countries have not received adequate support from the SPD, as indicated by their placement in brackets within a working group document.

Both parties have tentatively agreed on the principle of repatriations; nonetheless, the term 'coordination with European neighbors' has raised concerns within the SPD regarding its interpretation and operational implications, as expressed by Bundestag member Ralf Stegner.

Further complicating the negotiations, various other policy discussions present challenges.

The Union seeks to reactivate closed nuclear power plants and increase domestic natural gas production; however, the SPD remains opposed to these moves.

In the context of road safety, the SPD aims to establish a maximum speed limit of 130 km/h on autobahns, while the Union wishes to formally reject any form of speed limits.

Moreover, the Union calls for the reinstatement of mandatory military service, contrary to the SPD's preference for voluntary service only.

On reproductive health, the SPD is advocating for the abolition of legal restrictions in Paragraph 218 of the Criminal Code to liberalize abortion laws, a proposition contested by the Union.

In terms of drug policy, the Union supports reversing recent cannabis legalization, while the SPD defends maintaining it.

Disagreements are also evident regarding heating policy, with differing views on amending or abolishing existing regulations.

The Union aims to roll back commitments to ban combustion engines by 2035, opposing the SPD's stance in favor of permitting only climate-neutral vehicles.

On issues of legal gender recognition, the Union stands against the self-determination law regarding gender identity, whereas the SPD supports this measure and proposes a national action plan for LGBTQ+ rights.

Furthermore, the Union plans to repeal the current Freedom of Information Act, which facilitates access to official information for citizens and journalists, a move resisted by the SPD.

Financial implications of these negotiations remain a key concern.

Documents from the working groups indicate a lack of conclusive proposals for budget cuts or financial savings, prompting questions regarding the fiscal responsibility of potential spending initiatives.