Hesse government reviews mid-term, plans major investments

Hesse's governing coalition of CDU and SPD has outlined its priorities for the second half of its legislative term, emphasizing a commitment to "Hesse leads." The government plans significant investments, totaling around 10 billion euros, to drive progress in infrastructure, digitalization, artificial intelligence, education, and integration.

Minister President Boris Rhein (CDU) and his deputy, Economics Minister Kaweh Mansoori (SPD), presented the mid-term review after a two-day government retreat. Rhein stated that the government has "delivered from day one" and is focused on tackling people's immediate problems. Mansoori added that the coalition is entering the latter half of its term with a clear focus on growth and innovation.

A substantial portion of the planned investments, 7.4 billion euros, will come from the federal government's debt-financed infrastructure special fund. The focus will be on implementing the "Hessenplan," a comprehensive strategy for modernizing the state. Both leaders expressed satisfaction with the coalition's performance, noting a climate of mutual trust and crediting the SPD with bringing "fresh wind" to the government.

The government aims to remain closely aligned with the concerns of Hesse's residents, prioritizing secure urban areas, affordable housing, dependable education, a functional state, and strong community cohesion. Mansoori specifically highlighted investments from the "Hessenfonds" to secure jobs and a construction package designed to make building more affordable and faster, underscoring affordable housing as a top priority. The opposition, however, has reportedly given the government a poor interim assessment.