FDP Rhineland-Palatinate to create "Vocational Gymnasium" - FDP fights for survival in Rhineland-Palatinate’s high-stakes March election
The Free Democratic Party (FDP) is battling to maintain its seats in Rhineland-Palatinate's upcoming election on 22 March. Recent surveys indicate the party is struggling below the five-percent threshold required for parliamentary representation. Lead candidate Daniela Schmitt has now proposed a daring plan to revamp education policy in the state. At the state party conference, Schmitt advocated for a significant overhaul of how schools prepare students for their futures. She argued that education must equip children equally for vocational training or university. Her proposals included establishing a new 'vocational grammar school' (Handwerksgymnasium) to teach more practical skills. The FDP also pushed for mandatory internships and field trips to trades and crafts businesses. These measures aim to give students firsthand experience in skilled professions. Schmitt's speech was met with long applause from party members. The FDP currently holds six seats in Mainz's state parliament and has been part of the traffic-light coalition since 2016. For the March election, the party's key priorities extend beyond education to economic growth, transport, healthcare, and internal security. With surveys placing the FDP below the five-percent mark, the party faces a tough challenge to retain its parliamentary presence. Their education reforms and broader policy agenda will now be tested at the ballot box. The election on 22 March will determine whether the party remains in the state legislature.
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