Russia: Years in Prison Demanded for War Opponent Schlosberg
Russian prosecutors are seeking twelve years and one month in prison for Lev Schlosberg, accusing the war opponent of discrediting the army.
Category Politics
Political news, decisions and debates from Germany, Europe and the world, reported with clear source attribution.
Bundesrat sees itself prepared for possible AfD government in Saxony-Anhalt
The Bundesrat considers itself well prepared for the case of an AfD-led state government in Saxony-Anhalt. That said Bundesrat President Andreas Bovenschulte (SPD).
Reform plans divide Germany: Only six percent fully convinced
The German government's reform plans for pensions and taxes convince only part of the population. According to an Ipsos survey, only six percent see the proposals as clear steps in the right direction, while 38 percent consider them wrong.
Election Arena in Saxony-Anhalt: Firewall, Inclusion, Skilled Workers
At the MDR election arena for the 2026 state election in Saxony-Anhalt, the top candidates answered questions from citizens on Wednesday. Topics included the firewall against the AfD, inclusion, and the shortage of skilled workers.
Catarina dos Santos-Wintz becomes new parliamentary manager for the Union
The CDU lawmaker Catarina dos Santos-Wintz is set to become the new First Parliamentary Manager of the Union faction. Thorsten Frei has proposed the 32-year-old lawyer as successor to Steffen Bilger.
Court upholds deportation ban for ailing ex-PKK official
The Gelsenkirchen Administrative Court has upheld the deportation ban for a seriously ill 74-year-old former PKK functionary. The court sees a continued risk of torture upon return to Turkey, as Die Zeit reports.
German government upgrades BND and domestic intelligence
The federal cabinet has approved a reform that, for the first time, allows the BND and the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution to carry out covert operations in clearly defined cases.
Reform: Cabinet Strengthens BND and Domestic Intelligence
The German cabinet plans to significantly bolster the country's intelligence services, drawing criticism from the Left and the FDP. Chancellery Minister Nina Warken (CDU) calls it the most fundamental reform of the BND since its inception, as reported by ZDFheute.
Wagenknecht wants to enable AfD government in Saxony-Anhalt
BSW founder Sahra Wagenknecht has announced she will clear the way for an AfD minister-president in Saxony-Anhalt. As the FAZ reports, she considers it undemocratic to exclude a party with 40 percent of the vote.
Cabinet Approves Intelligence Reform After Drone Incident
The German cabinet is set to approve a comprehensive reform of the country's intelligence services today. According to Spiegel, the BND and the domestic intelligence agency will gain significantly more powers, including the ability to conduct active cyber operations.
Russian court bars anti-war party Yabloko from parliamentary election
A Moscow court has ruled that Yabloko, Russia's only registered party opposing the war in Ukraine, cannot take part in next month's parliamentary elections. The lawsuit was filed by Rodina, a pro-Kremlin nationalist party.
Schwesig accuses federal government of de facto pension cut
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's Manuela Schwesig (SPD) has accused the federal government of pushing through a de facto pension cut with its reform plans. She criticized the reform policy as unfair.
Jabloko faces exclusion from Russian parliamentary election
Russia's Supreme Court in Moscow is set to hear a case that could bar the liberal opposition party Jabloko from the September parliamentary election, amid a large crowd gathering outside.
CDU Tax Critique: Own Goal in the Election Campaign
The Union criticizes a tax reform it helped pass. In the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern election campaign, Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil is accused of breaking his word.
Rehlinger: Federal Government’s Pension Plans Are Unfair
Saarland's Anke Rehlinger (SPD) criticizes the federal government's pension plans as unfair and offers a compromise on care reform.
SPD criticizes family reunification rules as too strict
The SPD has criticized the rules on family reunification for refugees with subsidiary protection status as too strict. A year ago, the government put a stop to the reunification of these individuals.
Tschentscher: Coalition’s tax policy leads to dead end
Hamburg's mayor Peter Tschentscher (SPD) has sharply criticized the tax policy of the black-red federal government. He calls for a rethink in fiscal policy.
Low Water: Greens and Left Criticize Federal Government
Due to extreme low water levels in German rivers, inland navigation is under pressure. The Greens and the Left criticize the federal government's handling of the situation, as reported by the Tagesspiegel.
Union criticizes Klingbeil’s tax plans for clubs as a fatal signal
Federal Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD) wants to tighten the taxation of economically active clubs. According to WELT AM SONNTAG, the previous tax-free allowance of 5,000 euros is to be abolished.
EU slaps new sanctions on Russia after air strikes
The European Union imposed fresh sanctions on Russia on Friday, August 7, in response to the latest massive air strikes on Ukraine, as reported by 24tv.
Putin’s Hybrid War on Europe: The Kremlin Sees the West as an Enemy
Russia's President Vladimir Putin has long treated Europe as a warring party. As Die Zeit analyzes, the Kremlin is increasingly backing its aggressive rhetoric with hybrid attacks—from sabotage to assassination plots.
Berlin’s Left Party Makes Expropriation a Coalition Condition
The Left Party's federal chairwoman, Ines Schwerdtner, has announced that the party will only join a Berlin government if large housing companies are expropriated.
Germany’s top court urges Bundestag to speed up election review
The Federal Constitutional Court has admonished the Bundestag to process objections to the 2025 federal election more quickly. So far, only 450 of 1,041 objections have been resolved.
SPD debates scrapping pension at 63
The German government wants to abolish the pension at 63, but there is resistance within the SPD. Parliamentary Secretary Dirk Wiese advocates for hardship exemptions, for example for shift workers.
Rhine at Record Low, Ceuta Crisis, and AI Speeches: Today’s Top Stories
The Rhine's water level at Kaub has dropped to 24 centimeters, which could push fuel prices up. The EU is striving for unity after the migration dispute over Ceuta, while the German government remains vague about how often it uses AI for speeches.
Ukraine sanctions 23 companies and 20 individuals from defense sector
Ukraine has imposed sanctions on 23 companies and 20 individuals linked to Russia's military-industrial complex, according to a decree by President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Pension at 63: Frei rejects states’ demands
Thorsten Frei (CDU) rejects any adjustments to the planned pension reform. As he told WELT TV, he sees no room for negotiation on abolishing the pension at 63.
Bundestag debates CSD attack: Queer community criticizes Merz
Bundestag's interior committee is meeting today to discuss the consequences of the attack on the Christopher Street Day parade in Berlin. Representatives of the queer community sharply criticize Friedrich Merz, as reported by ZDFheute.
Number of Children Receiving Basic Income Support Falls to 1.64 Million
The German government has released figures showing a decline in the number of children receiving basic income support, dropping from 1.75 million to 1.64 million within a year.
Schwesig threatens to veto scrapping of pension at 63
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's Manuela Schwesig (SPD) has spoken out against the pension commission's recommendation to abolish the deduction-free pension after 45 years of contributions. She is threatening to vote against it in the Bundesrat.
Söder backs Merz and warns against new elections
CSU leader Markus Söder has publicly backed Friedrich Merz in the ARD summer interview and ruled out speculation about a change of chancellor. He also attributed the AfD's strength to migration and economic policy.
Söder sees CSU as anchor of stability and warns against copying AfD
CSU leader Markus Söder remained calm in the ARD summer interview, calling his party the "greatest anchor of stability in these turbulent times" despite weak local election results. He warned against copying the AfD in order to fight it.
Ceuta: 22 EU leaders sign open letter
Twenty-two EU heads of state and government have signed an open letter criticizing Spain over the migration crisis in Ceuta. German Friedrich Merz is among the signatories.
Trump: US can take what they want in Ukraine
US Donald Trump said in an interview with Real America's Voice that the US could access Ukraine's rare earth resources at any time and take "pretty much whatever we want." He valued the deal at over $300 billion.
Left Party demands Germany take in migrants from Ceuta
The Left Party is calling on Germany and the EU to take in asylum seekers from the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. Deputy faction leader Clara Bünger said the situation is not a natural disaster but the result of political decisions.
Interior Committee to Discuss Security Implications of CSD Attack
Germany's Bundestag interior committee convenes on Tuesday to deliberate on consequences of the attack on Berlin's Christopher Street Day parade.
ZDF poll: Majority expects no improvement from cabinet reshuffle
According to the Politbarometer, a clear majority of Germans do not expect the cabinet reshuffle by Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) to improve the government's work. Only 17 percent believe in better performance, while 61 percent see no major impact.
Climate Alliance Calls for National Heat Summit
The Climate Alliance is urging the German government to hold a national heat summit to develop concrete measures for heat protection and climate adaptation.
Kretschmer threatens to block pension and care reform – Reiche pushes back
Saxony's Michael Kretschmer (CDU) threatens to block the federal government's pension and care reform in the Bundesrat. Economy Katherina Reiche (CDU) defends the plans.
Federal Government to Relieve States and Municipalities with Billions Until 2029
The federal government is supporting states and municipalities with around one billion euros annually until 2029. The cabinet approved a draft law on April 15, which came into force on July 30, 2026.