Another dispute between the ruling coalition came to the fore on Thursday when the Bundestag restarted its prolonged debate about the proposed revisions to the Disability Equality Act.
Federal Minister of Social Affairs Bärbel Bas of the center-left SPD said there had been “progress” during the day’s debate but that she would have “liked to see more.”
The opposition Green Party, however, said this was “not a law to be proud of in any way.” MP Corinna Rüffers said it was a “slap in the face to be people with disabilities.”
The Left Party agreed, with parliamentary co-leader Sören Pellmann calling it a “step backward” and argued it wasn’t up to the standard of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with disabilities, as well as the equal protection guarantees of the Basic Law, Germany’s constitution.
The conservative CDU has called the measures “disproportionate,” including a clause that requires federal buildings to become wheelchair accessible by 2045.
Alongside their Bavarian sister party the CSU, the CDU has also rolled back requirements for private businesses to become more accessible. This includes phrasing that says businesses can argue it is an “unreasonable burden” to, for example, have restaurant tables further apart, build a wheelchair ramp or install an elevator.
Critics argue that this language is vague and will make the law difficult to enforce.
Disability rights advocates have long complained that German infrastructure is built for only the most able-bodied, and that access to employment and education is lacking. Germany has been heavily criticized for still using employment models for some disabled adults that can see them earning less than minimum wage in communal “workshops.”
The country has also faced criticism for lack of inclusion in education, still employing “special schools” in some areas. This can be a particular problem in rural areas.
“How much longer do we want to wait?” asked SPD lawmaker Heike Heubach, a member of the Deaf community.