Political news, decisions and debates from Germany, Europe and the world, reported with clear source attribution.
Former German Finance Minister Peer Steinbrück (SPD) sees significant deficits in Germany but also reasons for optimism. In an interview with Deutschlandfunk, he called on his party to care for various parts of society again.
Two weeks before the NATO summit in Ankara, the heads of state and government of the E5 group in Berlin have spoken out in favor of renewing the alliance. Merz said the partners wanted to strengthen the alliance and expand its European pillar.
An unusual coalition has formed in the Berlin election campaign to prevent the expropriation of housing companies.
EU ambassadors have approved a 12-month extension of economic sanctions against Russia, Ukrinform reports, citing an informed source in Brussels.
Germany's cabinet has appointed a new development policy commission, to be co-chaired by former Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and former Costa Rican Laura Chinchilla.
Five years after the end of her 16-year chancellorship, Angela Merkel has had her portrait painted for the ancestral gallery in the Federal Chancellery. The painting by 28-year-old artist Jérémy Queyras is to be unveiled on June 30, as reported by "Zeit."
Friedrich Merz received the winners of the 73rd European Competition at the Chancellery in Berlin. Around 75,000 young people took part in this year's edition.
The German government is informing on its website about disinformation, how it works, and the countermeasures being taken. Especially since Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, the targeted spread of false information has increased.
The German Federal Public Prosecutor's Office had private premises of a Russian in Berlin and a company in Frankfurt searched on Wednesday morning. The Russian is being investigated, among other things, for aiding and abetting anti-constitutional sabotage.
The German government has agreed on a draft for the 'Infrastructure Future Act'. Federal Transport Minister Schnieder calls it a 'paradigm shift' for rail and road construction projects.
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has terminated the billion-euro F126 frigate project. According to Tagesschau, the ministry confirmed the withdrawal from building the navy's largest warships.
German Family Minister Karin Prien (CDU) speaks out against a blanket social media ban for children. Instead, she advocates age-appropriate media use and is set to receive recommendations from an expert commission today.
The Lower Saxony state parliament has passed a modernized water act aimed at improving the protection of water resources. Not all lawmakers voted in favor, as reported by NDR.
Friedrich Merz (CDU) wants to make pension reform the turning point of his chancellorship and announces a revival of Ludwig Erhard's policies. According to a report, he is banking on full implementation of the 33 proposals from an expert commission.
French Minister Sébastien Lecornu has ordered unannounced drug tests for cabinet members and senior officials.
Brandenburg's Minister Dietmar Woidke has called for a comprehensive reform of the statutory pension system, urging the inclusion of all professional groups. He made the remarks while presenting a report by the pension commission.
In the debate over a potential paradigm shift in organ donation, the German government's patient ombudsman, Schwartze, is advocating for the so-called opt-out solution.
Luigi Pantisano, co-chair of the Left Party, has sparked a fierce internal backlash by labeling the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) as fascist. According to Spiegel, several top candidates and members distanced themselves from the remark during a campaign event in Magdeburg.
Yasmin Fahimi, chair of the German Trade Union Federation (DGB), has rejected central recommendations from the pension commission. Instead of raising the retirement age or cutting pension levels, she calls for stabilizing the system through more contributors.
A federal judge has stopped the Trump administration's investigations into politicians in Minnesota, accusing the government of using the probes for intimidation.
Andy Burnham's backers are split between Wes Streeting and Ed Miliband for the chancellor role, sparking a briefing war, the Guardian reports.
Three months before the state election in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the AfD is leading in a poll. The SPD of Manuela Schwesig is catching up.
The German government is planning a reform of the Disability Equality Act. Disability rights activists criticize that the draft contains hardly any binding requirements for the private sector.
The German government is taking a stake in the Franco-German tank manufacturer KNDS, signaling that main battle tanks remain relevant for future warfare despite drones and cyber threats.
Germany and France have reached an agreement on the federal government's stake in the German-French defense company KNDS. Government spokesman Kornelius announced in Berlin that the federal government aims to acquire a 40 percent stake.
More than a third of members of the German Bundestag have reported additional income or benefits in kind during the current legislative term, according to an analysis by Abgeordnetenwatch and Spiegel.
Luigi Pantisano, the newly elected co-leader of Germany's Left Party, has apologized for accusing the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) of pursuing fascist policies.
Representatives of unions and business associations are meeting with Head of the Chancellery Thorsten Frei (CDU) at the Chancellery on Tuesday afternoon to discuss the federal government's reform plans. Friedrich Merz (CDU) is not taking part in the meeting.
Friedrich Merz (CDU) wants to review several social programs to relieve municipalities. He made the announcement during the federal government's open day in Berlin.
A group of younger Green Party lawmakers is opposing a rise in the retirement age to 70. According to a position paper, they instead demand measures to secure the statutory pension system.
Schleswig-Holstein's Minister Daniel Günther (CDU) has demanded the resignation of Luigi Pantisano, the newly elected co-chair of the Left Party, after Pantisano compared the CDU to fascists in a newspaper interview.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) has expressed caution about a quick parliamentary decision on a Bundeswehr deployment in the Strait of Hormuz.
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.
Friedrich Merz says he no longer files criminal complaints for insults, and is open to debating the law protecting politicians from defamation.
The far-right Free Saxons party is contesting the official result of the mayoral election in Aue-Bad Schlema, where CDU candidate Marcus Hoffmann won the runoff against Stefan Hartung of the Free Saxons.
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) plans to significantly increase the number of deportations to Afghanistan. Three charter flights per month would be possible, a ministry spokesperson told the German Press Agency.
Germany's pension commission has proposed raising the retirement age and introducing a funded pension scheme to stabilize the system. The government is now tasked with implementing the reforms.
The Left Party has sharply criticized the proposals of the pension commission. Pension policy spokesperson Sarah Vollath accuses the commission of massive pension cuts that would hit low earners hardest.
The German government is opening its doors to visitors on Sunday. At the same time, the National Veterans' Day is taking place, as reported by Deutschlandfunk.
Stephan Protschka remains chairman of the AfD. His challenger Reinhard Mixl withdrew before the vote at the party congress in Passau.