Anti-Gender Referendum: Exploring the Controversial Bill in Baden-Württemberg

“The content of the referendum is a one-to-one resolution of the CDU parliamentary group,” said CDU parliamentary group leader Manuel Hagel. “Of course we think it’s good.” Popular motions are an important instrument of democracy that you have to take seriously. “It’s also about respect. I support and share the content of the request.”

What is in the bill?

The draft law states that the state government and those subordinate to it Authorities and all other institutions in the country should refrain from specifying the use of gender-neutral changes and additions. In addition, examination performances at universities and schools, for example, should not be rated or judged worse because they were not gendered.

Referendums have a history

With its demands, the referendum refers to an identical decision by the CDU parliamentary group from their closed meeting in autumn 2022. In the paper, the deputies had demanded that all official, administrative and school facilities in Baden-Württemberg only follow the valid grammar and should adhere to spelling rules.

The opposition FDP parliamentary group, on the other hand, which agrees with the Christian Democrats on the gender issue, submitted this demand to the state parliament in February in order to corner the CDU and drive a wedge into the green-black coalition. The wording of the FDP application corresponded exactly to the wording of the CDU resolution. However, the FDP failed with the application. The Heidelberg lawyer Hekking then launched the initiative for a referendum – on the grounds that it was now the turn of the people.

How does a referendum work?

Citizens can initiate a referendum with a referendum. Thus, own bills can be brought into parliament and a vote can be forced. First, 10,000 signatures are required from Baden-Württemberg citizens who are entitled to vote, so that a referendum can be approved. The application will be examined by the Ministry of the Interior. If it goes through, the second step is to collect the signatures of ten percent of those eligible to vote in the southwest within six months – that’s around 780,000 men and women.

Once this has been done, the draft law will be submitted to the state parliament for a vote. If he does not find a majority, a referendum will follow. The decisive factor is what the majority votes for in the referendum. In Baden-Württemberg, a referendum is only valid if at least one-fifth of those entitled to vote approve the proposal (approval quorum).