BSW relies on verbal commitments made during elections about school lunches - BSW Pushes for Delivery of Promised Educational Developments from Elections
**Thuringia's Push for Free School Meals and Kindergarten Expansion**
In Thuringia, a contentious debate is underway regarding the financial responsibility for free school meals and the expansion of fee-free kindergarten years. The state government's budget negotiations are currently in progress, with the passage of the 2026/2027 double budget hanging in the balance, depending on the voting behavior of the opposition.
The BSW (Social Democratic Party of Germany) and the Left party are at the forefront of this push for change. BSW education politician Dirk Hoffmeister has suggested a gradual, socially scaled introduction of free school meals, while the Left insists that the Brombeer coalition keeps its promises regarding the third free kindergarten year.
The BSW had advocated for free school meals at both the state and federal levels prior to the Thuringian state election. The coalition agreement, signed by the BSW and the Left, states that a healthy, warm, and free school and kindergarten lunch should be introduced. However, the agreement does not explicitly mention the third fee-free kindergarten year.
The current ruling Brombeer coalition, which has no majority in parliament, faces challenges in passing the double budget. The Left gave its approval for the current budget in exchange for the promise of a third free kindergarten year in the next double budget. The draft budget for 2026/2027 includes this provision.
The responsibility for the introduction of free school meals within the state government has not yet been clarified. Negotiations are expected to be difficult, given the state's financially tight situation, as mentioned by CDU faction leader Andreas Bühl. The BSW, however, is pressing forward, with Hoffmeister stating that they will insist on this.
It is worth noting that the two years before school entry are already free of charge in Thuringia. The BSW envisions a state subsidy for free school meals by August 1, 2027. The Left is pushing for this expansion, aiming to provide a comprehensive, affordable education for all children in the state.
As the negotiations continue, the outcome of these debates will shape the educational landscape in Thuringia for years to come. A clear resolution on the financial responsibility for free school meals and the third fee-free kindergarten year is eagerly awaited.
[1] Reference omitted due to lack of availability. [2] Reference omitted due to lack of availability.
The ongoing budget negotiations in Thuringia are crucial for the implementation of free school meals and the expansion of fee-free kindergarten years, as proposed by the BSW and the Left. These policies, aimed at promoting affordable education and self-development, are integral to the financial and business aspects of the community.
The BSW's education policy, which includes the gradual introduction of free school meals and the advocacy for this initiative at both state and federal levels, is a significant part of their educational vision. Simultaneously, the Left's focus on finance, through their insistence on a third fee-free kindergarten year, reflects their commitment to education-and-self-development.
