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2023: The year ahead in German socio-cultural policies

Tanya Ott
January 17, 2023

New year, new rules: a look at some of the measures set to influence Germany's cultural life and society in 2023 — including dual citizenship, cannabis legalization and cultural access for young people.

https://p.dw.com/p/4MF90
A white person with long dark hair stands in a cannabis greenhouse, holding one cannabis leaf in front of each eye.
The German government has proposed legalizing cannabis fro recreational use — but when?Image: Bea Vera/Addictive Stock/IMAGO

Germany is set to decide on or introduce a host of measures and legislation directed at socio-cultural issues in the country.

Here's a look at some of the hottest topics that will feature in the news this year.

1. Dual citizenship 

With few exceptions, Germany does not allow non-EU nationals to have German citizenship in addition to their original citizenship. Now, a draft law has been introduced that would let people become naturalized German citizens without having to relinquish their previous citizenship.

The proposed legislation would also ease the path to citizenship, including reducing the required length of residency. 

2. Legalization of recreational cannabis 

Cannabis for medical use has been legal in Germany under strictly defined circumstances since 2017.

Now the government intends to legalize the drug for recreational use.

A proposed legalization framework would allow adults to possess up to 30 grams (approx. 1 ounce) of cannabis as well as home cultivation of three cannabis plants per adult.

Recreational use is currently illegal in Germany, but possession of small amounts is generally not prosecuted.

The proposed legalization has strong opposition, and the legislation is likely to have along road ahead of it. 

3. The 'KulturPass': New adults get €200 for culture

To give Germany's cultural institutions a post-pandemic-lockdown boost, the Culture Ministry is introducing the "KulturPass," or "culture pass." 

It gives everyone turning 18 in 2023 a €200 ($216) coupon to use for purchases ranging from cinema or concert tickets to museum admissions and even books and vinyl records.

The pass will be introduced in the spring, and the ministry says that if it's a success, the scheme will be expanded to include people from 15 to 17 years old. 

4. Self-determination for transgender people 

The coalition government has drafted legislation aimed at lowering the hurdles to gender transition for trans people.

The current law, parts of which the country's constitutional court has repeatedly ruled unconstitutional, requires an expensive and time-consuming procedure involving external reviewers and compulsory therapy, which many trans advocates say is invasive and humiliating. And the German supreme court has ruled it unconstitutional.

The new draft law would allow trans people to change their legal gender status and access treatment for medical transitioning without an external assessment.

Dancers from Berlin's State Ballet perform on the top deck of a sightseeing ship touring past Berlin's landmark Bode museum at Spree river during the "From Berlin With Love" event.
Berlin's Staatsballett is among the capital's cultural institutions getting an adviser for diversity and anti-discriminationImage: Fabrizio Bensch/REUTERS

5. Diversity at cultural institutions

This one is limited to Berlin for the time being but may have a ripple effect across the country.

Berlin's local government has given five publicly-funded cultural institutions a total of €500,000 ($540,000) to employ anti-discrimination and diversity advisers. Those institutions include the Staatsballett, which faced charges of racism from one of its dancers in 2021. 

Edited by: Manasi Gopalakrishnan

Tanya Ott Culture reporter, editor, translator, producer and voiceover artist based in Berlin.