GroKo and BAföG

The elections to the Bundestag were held at the end of September, and Germany still has no government.

In Thailand, people are taking to the streets against the government. In Ukraine, too.
And we don't even have a government to demonstrate against.
Note: The people are wearing Germany's national colors (©Harm Bengen)

Lengthy coalition negotiations between the Christian Democrats and the Social Democrats eventually led to an agreement on legislation projects for the coming four years.

The coalition has 503 and the opposition 127 seats in the Bundestag:
One fart from us -- and things will be quiet down back there (©BZ; Stuttmann).

However, before the Gro-Ko-deal* may come into force, all members of the latter party were asked to approve the Elefantenhochzeit (marriage between the black and the red elephant) by December 13.
*German pun with Krokodil, i.e., Großer Koalitionsdeal, translates into a grand coalition deal.

Stop the press: Red Baron just learned that GroKo has been chosen as Germany's new word of the year.

A GroKo made from concrete in Freiburg? I would instead call it a Crocon.

As you may imagine, the coalition contract is an expensive compromise on the combined promises made by both parties during their election campaign. Due to a lack of money, many a commitment will remain on paper, which is patient, as we all know. 

In particular, one expenditure both parties agreed to will be axed: an increase in the BAföG ceiling. The Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz (Federal law concerning the support of high and tertiary school education and academic training) provides interest-free loans to students to finance their studies. Borrowers start repaying their loans once they earn money. I do not want to give you a lesson on BAföG, but instead would like to comment on a poster full of demands that students at Humboldt University in Berlin produced for the recent federal election:

As one of my most loyal readers observed, Red Baron likes alliterations, and here we go:

©BZ

These demands translate as follows into English, albeit without alliteration:

BAFöG instead of bankruptcy. No more money for that. Instead, the parties agreed to increase pensions for their clients, aging mothers, and worn-out skilled workers. This did not please the young Christian Democrats (Junge Union) or the young Social Democrats (Jusos), who rightly criticized the idea that the young have to pay for the old once more.

The student canteen, instead of instant noodles, means that students demand enough money to afford decent meals.

Work instead of illegal employment requests that it be possible for students to find real jobs rather than working without paying taxes or being insured.

Student dormitory instead of the camper van. In fact, there is a shortage of student accommodations across Germany, so some students sleep in unusual places.

Advising instead of burnout. In comparison with the States, academic advising at German universities still needs improvement. Indeed, some students not appropriately guided in their studies have been diagnosed with signs of early burnout.

Culture instead of a console. Give students the means to participate in cultural activities rather than play computer games. Here, I disagree. Already at the time when Red Baron was among the student population, operas, theaters, and concerts offered tickets at reduced, affordable prices to students. However, we had to be in line early and stay long enough to get them.

Daycare centers, instead of being childless. I do not understand this demand. Does that mean the female students aim to get pregnant and park their offspring in daycare centers? Women will always have problems matching family and career, but nursing babies in lecture halls?

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