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POLITICS

German opposition asks President to block cannabis law

In an unusual step, the conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) have asked Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier not to sign the government's cannabis law - even though it's just cleared both chambers of German Parliament.

German opposition asks President to block cannabis law
A man smokes a joint at a cannabis legislation protest in Berlin in May. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Annette Riedl

Speaking to Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland, CDU health spokesperson Tino Sorge asked the President to stop the legislation for the time being.

“It’s not too late for that,” he said. ‘The unanimous criticism from all the state justice and interior ministers is just too great.”

Although both the Bundestag and the Bundesrat – which represents German states – have passed the law, all German legislation must pass a constitutional review by the Federal President before officially being signed into law.

A German President has only refused to sign a law in eight cases since 1949. In particularly busy times, that’s the same amount of legislation that might cross a President’s desk in a week or two. Although refusal to sign must be given only on constitutional grounds.

There’s no indication so far that President Steinmeier – a Social Democrat like Chancellor Olaf Scholz – will hold up the law, which is supposed to come into effect April 1st. Again though, the President must sign it in time.

From then – assuming signature happens in time – cultivation associations will be legal in Germany, while adults can grow up to three plants and possess up to 50 grams in their own homes.

In public, they’ll be able to carry up to 25 grams.

READ ALSO: Germany gives green light to partially legalise cannabis from April

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POLITICS

Scholz calls on coalition to ‘pull ourselves together’

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Saturday called on his fractious governing coalition to "pull ourselves together" following a dismal showing in EU parliament elections last week.

Scholz calls on coalition to 'pull ourselves together'

In power since the end of 2021, the three parties in government — Scholz’s Social Democrats (SPD), the Greens and the liberal FDP — have been at loggerheads on a wide range of issues including climate measures and budget spending.

“I think that this is one of the entirely justified criticisms of many citizens, namely that there is too much debate” within the coalition, Scholz told German television channel ZDF on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Italy.

“We need to pull ourselves together and stick together to reach agreements,” he added.

“The people have the right to demand that things change,” Scholz told public broadcaster ARD.

The three parties in the coalition suffered a severe defeat in the European elections, with the SPD achieving its worst result in a national election since 1949.

Subsequently, Scholz has faced mounting criticism within his own party.

On Saturday, however, Scholz told ZDF and ARD that he was “sure” that he would be the SPD’s next candidate for the chancellorship in the parliamentary elections scheduled for autumn 2025.

In the very short term, a new test awaits the coalition, which must reach an agreement on the 2025 budget by the beginning of July.

The FDP’s finance minister is opposed to any exceptions to the rules limiting debt and to any tax increases.

On the other hand, the SPD and the Greens are opposed to cuts in social welfare or climate protection.

The debate is also focused on increasing the resources allocated to the German army.

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