Political news, decisions and debates from Germany, Europe and the world, reported with clear source attribution.
Tens of thousands of people visited the German government's open house in Berlin over the weekend, despite intense heat and occasional storms. The government counted more than 80,000 guests, according to its own figures.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) has described the Baltic Sea as an increasingly conflict-ridden area at a security conference. Russia views the Baltic region strategically, he said at the opening of the Kiel Security Conference.
Jens Spahn, former German health minister, has taken part in secret meetings of Peter Thiel's dialogue network. However, he has canceled his attendance at the next meeting in Dublin in August 2024, according to multiple media reports.
EU Council President António Costa called Moscow to speak with Vladimir Putin. This unilateral move is seen as an affront in Brussels.
Berlin's governing mayor Kai Wegner (CDU) wants to ride in his own float at the Christopher Street Day (CSD) on July 25 for the first time – and has earmarked 140,000 euros in taxpayer money. Organizers of the CSD are surprised by the amount, as reported by FAZ.
At the NATO defense ministers' meeting in Brussels, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called on Europeans to take over the bulk of Ukraine aid. He considers a NATO membership for Ukraine unrealistic.
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's Minister Manuela Schwesig (SPD) has sharply criticized the federal government's planned nursing care reforms, calling them 'inhumane.' She announced she would not agree to the proposals by Nina Warken (CDU).
The AfD has unveiled plans for a comprehensive administrative overhaul in Saxony-Anhalt. Sven Schulze sharply criticized these proposals.
The German government has drafted a text for a Bundestag mandate to participate in an international military mission in the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report by Spiegel. A decision could come as early as next week.
The number of asylum applications in Germany has plummeted by 52 percent year-on-year – almost twice the EU average. For the first time since 2011, the country has slipped behind Spain, France, and Italy to fourth place among destination countries.
German Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig (SPD) wants to prevent far-right extremists from influencing the judiciary through the election of lay judges. Honorary lay judges would in future have to explicitly commit to upholding the constitution, as reported by Tagesspiegel.
The CDU's Seniors' Union has made clear that the upcoming pension reform is of central importance for the stability of the governing coalition. Hubert Hüppe, chairman of the Seniors' Union, also called for painful cuts to civil servant pensions.
The CDU in Saxony-Anhalt has unanimously adopted its election program for the state election in September at its party congress in Dessau-Roßlau. Top candidate Sven Schulze focuses on migration, the economy, and internal security, as reported by MDR.
Former Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer (Greens) sees the black-red federal government in a crisis of trust. In an interview with dpa, he calls for a major joint project to restore Germany's competitiveness.
Former German Finance Minister Peer Steinbrück (SPD) advocates for a new approach to the AfD. Instead of a ban procedure, he relies on a strategy of deradicalization and tougher measures against individual actors.
The EU Migration Pact officially came into force this Friday. According to Euronews, it introduces a central registration system, faster procedures, and a solidarity mechanism – but implementation in member states is lagging behind.
Germany's state justice ministers have voted to abolish the special protection for top politicians against insults, while keeping it for local officials.
For decades, political disputes in Germany have been drawn along the line between rich and poor. But another conflict threatens the country's future: the generational divide between young and old.
The German government has presented a draft law to implement the European AI regulation. The aim is to create an innovation-friendly and reliable legal framework for artificial intelligence in Germany.
The planned building modernization law by the black-red federal government is facing broad criticism from the northern German states. According to NDR, the states have submitted nearly 70 proposed amendments.
The Bundestag held its first debate on Friday over the new Building Modernization Act. Economy Minister Katherina Reiche (CDU) wants to scrap the old heating law from the traffic-light coalition, while the opposition considers the plan a failure.
The planned increase in salaries for members of the Bundestag will not go ahead this year, according to a report by Handelsblatt.
The chair of the German parliament's transport committee, Al-Wazir (Greens), has accused the federal transport ministry of setting the wrong priorities for infrastructure projects. According to Deutschlandfunk, there is a lack of funds for renovating existing bridges.
The federal government has placed the planned Bafög increase under a funding caveat, putting the reform's implementation in doubt. The SPD immediately criticized the Union, which is said to have pushed for the caveat.
Berlin AfD, led by top candidate Kristin Brinker, is aiming to take over the government and is demanding a radical policy shift in the capital.
The Federal Audit Office has sharply criticized the Foreign Office for providing millions in federal funds to the aid organization Islamic Relief Germany despite suspicions of Islamism. The government accuses the group of ties to the Muslim Brotherhood.
The German government has launched a fundamental reform of the administrative judiciary. The aim is to make the courts more efficient, digital, and modern, thereby relieving their workload and speeding up proceedings.
The German cabinet has approved a law to strengthen cybersecurity, expanding the powers of the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI), the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), and the Federal Police.
Former UK Tony Blair has sharply criticized the Labour Party leadership in a 5,700-word essay, accusing Keir Starmer, Andy Burnham and Wes Streeting of abandoning the political center and jeopardizing the party's future.
SPD foreign policy expert Rolf Mützenich has argued that Russia cannot be defeated on the battlefield in the Ukraine war, calling for a European diplomatic initiative.
The German government's planned care reform is still pending. According to Zdfheute, long-term care insurance funds are in serious financial trouble, but no public draft bill has been presented yet.
Nigel Farage's claim that a Russian hack was behind a Guardian report on a £5 million donation has been dismissed as 'without any merit' by former NCSC chief Ciaran Martin. Martin called the Reform UK leader's allegation 'entirely unsubstantiated'.
Only 13 percent of Germans are satisfied with the federal government, and Chancellor Friedrich Merz is rapidly losing support. An analysis of squandered trust and the question of how it can be regained.
Saxony's Michael Kretschmer (CDU) has spoken out in favor of higher taxes on large fortunes and inheritances in an interview. He justifies this with the need to relieve lower and middle incomes.
The Frankfurt public prosecutor's office has searched further premises of supporters of the voter initiative 'Frankfurt – Sozial!'. There is suspicion that signatures from users of a home emergency call system were forged to get Peter Feldmann's electoral list onto the ballot for the local election.
Carsten Schneider (SPD) has pushed back against criticism of renewable energy in a dispute with Katherina Reiche. He warned that blocking the energy transition harms the national interest.
The Bundestag approved the pharmacy reform proposed by the black-red coalition on Thursday. Pharmacies will now be allowed to offer vaccinations, preventive check-ups, and rapid tests, according to the newspaper.
EU Economic Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis has ruled out any easing of EU sanctions against Russia. The European Union (EU) has lowered its growth forecast for 2026 and warned of rising inflation, according to Euronews.
AfD politician Bernd Baumann picked up a CDU brochure about his party at the party headquarters and called it "full of lies" in a TikTok video. The CDU immediately responded to the social media attack, as reported by the FAZ.
The AfD has failed in the Bundestag with its motion for a parliamentary investigative committee into the Nord Stream sabotage attacks. Several parliamentary groups rejected the proposal, accusing the party of electioneering.