Germany's Information Freedom Act Faces Uncertain Future in Coalition Talks

CDU/CSU proposes abolishing the transparency law, sparking opposition from the Green Party and leaving the SPD undecided.

The CDU/CSU has proposed abolishing the federal Information Freedom Act (IFG), citing a focus on 'strengthening representative democracy.'
The IFG, introduced in 2006, has been a key tool for transparency, enabling public access to government documents and uncovering political scandals.
Opposition parties, particularly the Green Party, have strongly criticized the proposal, calling for the law's expansion instead of its removal.
The SPD has not yet agreed to the CDU/CSU's proposal, leaving the fate of the IFG uncertain as coalition negotiations continue.
Transparency advocates warn that abolishing the IFG could undermine government accountability and damage Germany's international reputation on transparency commitments.