Political news, decisions and debates from Germany, Europe and the world, reported with clear source attribution.
The CDU/CSU and SPD parliamentary groups plan to scrap the planned increase in parliamentary allowances for this year. According to Welt, they aim to send a signal of austerity to the public.
The planned increase in salaries for members of the Bundestag will not go ahead this year, according to a report by Handelsblatt.
Britain's major trade unions have rebuffed Nigel Farage's call for them to affiliate with Reform UK, accusing the party of cosplaying as workers' champions while opposing new employment rights, the Guardian reports.
Just days before the Common European Asylum System (GEAS) comes into force, the SPD wants to gradually reduce border controls with neighboring countries. The Union considers this premature, as reported by Deutschlandfunk.
Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD) has backed the German Trade Union Federation's (DGB) proposal to make company pensions mandatory for all employees.
The CDU in Saxony-Anhalt is keeping its distance from Friedrich Merz during the state election campaign. According to Spiegel, the state party is deliberately distancing itself from its own chancellor, even though Merz could provide support on the campaign trail.
Germany, France and Britain want to restart stalled efforts to end Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. Friedrich Merz, Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Keir Starmer agreed on this at a meeting in London.
On Wednesday, the government, unions, and business associations will meet at the Chancellery to discuss pressing reform projects. However, the coalition is dampening expectations for the top-level meeting, as Zeit reports.
On June 20, 2026, the German government will hold the 12th memorial hour for the victims of flight and expulsion at the Konzerthaus Berlin, as announced by the government.
The German government is apparently unable to clearly assess the climate impact of the planned Building Modernization Act. This emerges from a government response to a query by the Greens, as reported by the Funke media group.
The leaders of Germany's black-red governing coalition have invited employers and unions to a meeting on Wednesday. According to Tagesspiegel, Friedrich Merz (CDU) hopes for 'inclusion and input' but stresses that politicians alone will decide on reforms.
Union faction's First Parliamentary Secretary, Steffen Bilger, has rejected calls to suspend the Bundestag's summer recess, according to Deutschlandfunk.
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.
UK Justice David Lammy has told US Vice President JD Vance that his remarks linking the murder of Henry Nowak to mass immigration are false. Lammy said he called Vance to correct the record.
Daniel Peters, the newly re-elected CDU state chairman in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, wants to focus his state election campaign on the economy, healthcare, education, and internal security. The people in the state are longing for a substantive debate, Peters told NDR.
The district council of Ilm-Kreis in Thuringia rejected funding for democracy projects at the request of the AfD. The non-partisan district administrator now plans to reverse the decision, according to Spiegel.
FDP leader Wolfgang Kubicki has sent a text message to Friedrich Merz (CDU) reading 'Moin, Friedrich. Mission Impossible is completed.' The message comes as Kubicki aims to lift the Free Democrats out of political irrelevance.
The AfD in Saxony-Anhalt plans to abolish compulsory school attendance if it takes power. Education researcher Ricking told Welt why the German model causes astonishment abroad.
Claudia Weimer has called for a 'Kulturkampf' against the AfD. Despite the far-right party's surge in polls, she expressed confidence that the tide would soon turn, as reported by Tagesspiegel.
The German government sees little need for action to increase state transparency, as reported by Heise. Previously, the Federal Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information (BfDI) had called for more openness.
Markus Söder (CSU) is heading for a confrontation with Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD). He warns against weakening the Bundeswehr's state commands, as WELT reports.
The nursing care reform proposed by CDU Minister Warken is facing fierce opposition from within her own coalition parties. The SPD calls it a 'burden package,' while the CSU warns of a 'shunting yard toward social welfare.'
FDP politician Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann has described the course of former CDU chairwoman Angela Merkel as a 'mortal sin'. According to WELT, she accuses Merkel of having allowed political space to the right of the Union.
Family Minister Karin Prien (CDU) has spoken to Politico Europe about restructuring a popular family benefit amid budget savings requirements. She also advocated for a pragmatic approach to the EU Pay Transparency Directive.
The Turkish opposition is struggling against Recep Tayyip Erdoğan – and with itself. Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin is downplaying the war, while corruption allegations against tank manufacturer KNDS are hardening, according to Spiegel.
The CDU leadership has canceled its presidium meeting planned for late August in Magdeburg. The cancellation came at the request of the minister-president of Saxony-Anhalt, according to Spiegel.
UK Keir Starmer has accused Elon Musk of meddling in the country's politics and sowing division, following Musk's posts about the murder of Henry Nowak that Starmer says echo far-right themes.
Federal Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU) is planning a nursing care reform that cuts subsidies for home care costs and increases the financial burden on high earners, according to Deutschlandfunk.
A record number of people naturalized in Germany in 2025, but CDU politician Throm criticizes the trend, alleging preferential treatment for certain groups.
The British government has rejected accusations of a 'two-tier justice' system following the murder of 14-year-old Henry Nowak, calling them a 'slur' on the police. Lucy Rigby made the statement in an interview with Sky News on Thursday, as reported by the Guardian.
Opposition is growing within the Union against the EU Pay Transparency Directive. According to WELT, CDU and CSU politicians are urging the federal government to negotiate its withdrawal in Brussels.
Germany has suffered a defeat in the election for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council. Reactions from German politics describe the outcome as a 'blamage', 'quittung' and 'defeat', according to Deutschlandfunk.
The Berlin CDU has presented its election program, which includes video surveillance, edge development, and criticism of the Greens. The draft is to be adopted at a state party conference on June 9, as reported by Tagesspiegel.
Louisa Specht-Riemenschneider, the Federal Commissioner for Freedom of Information, is calling for a transparency law and constitutional protection of the right to access government information. The goal is an amendment to the Basic Law.
A Berlin court is expected to decide in the coming days on the future of the Green Party's planned reform, which has sparked significant internal conflict, according to Tagesspiegel.
US Donald Trump is reportedly using the power of his office more aggressively than ever for private gain. According to Tagesspiegel, data show extremely conspicuous stock purchases by his son.
Germany is seeking a seat on the United Nations Security Council. Former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder has been spotted in Moscow, according to Spiegel.
Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul is fighting for a German seat on the UN Security Council. The decision on whether Germany will secure the seat comes on Wednesday.
Amid rising naturalizations of dual nationals, CDU interior expert Krings is demanding an amendment to the citizenship law.
BSW founder Sahra Wagenknecht has called the firewall against the AfD 'completely idiotic' and demanded a cross-party minister-president who would govern with shifting majorities, including AfD votes, ahead of state elections in Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.