FDP elects Kubicki as new leader – conservative-liberal course
Kubicki is the new federal chairman of the FDP. At the party convention in Berlin, he prevailed in a contested vote and called for a conservative-liberal direction in his first speech.
Category Politics
Political news, decisions and debates from Germany, Europe and the world, reported with clear source attribution.
Greens Urged to Reform Voters to Tackle Inequality
Green Party leaders Zack Polanski and Caroline Lucas called on the party to take the concerns of Reform UK voters seriously in order to combat inequality, speaking at a conference in London on Saturday.
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern elects Dario Seifert as general secretary
The AfD in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern has elected Dario Seifert as its new general secretary at its state party conference. The party is aiming to take over the government in the state election in September.
AfD Calls for Halt on Asylum Seeker Intake in Berlin
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.
Merz Calls Chancellor Swap Debate ‘Side Issue’
Friedrich Merz (CDU) has dismissed the discussion about a possible change of chancellor in the coalition as a 'side issue'. According to Zeit, Merz reaffirmed his determination to push through key reforms.
Brandenburg wants to create more student dormitories in Potsdam
Faced with a tight housing market in Potsdam, the state government of Brandenburg plans to create more dormitory places for students and accelerate the construction of student housing, as Tagesspiegel reports.
AfD Youth Campaigns Outside School in Hoyerswerda – Omas gegen Rechts Protest
According to Spiegel, the AfD's youth wing campaigned early in the morning in front of a school in Hoyerswerda, Saxony. The group 'Omas gegen Rechts' protested the action.
Federal Audit Office criticizes Foreign Office for funding Islamic Relief
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.
Green High-Rise Project WoHo in Kreuzberg Fails for Now
The green flagship project 'WoHo' in Berlin-Kreuzberg has initially failed in the district council. The Left Party and SPD rejected the 100-meter-tall timber construction project with social housing and commercial space, as reported by Tagesspiegel.
German government launches major reform of administrative courts
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.
German Cabinet Approves Law to Strengthen Cybersecurity
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.
German government tightens penalties for human trafficking
The German cabinet has approved a draft law that would impose stricter sentences for human trafficking and forced prostitution, according to a report by Zeit.
Tony Blair attacks Labour leadership: Party is losing the center ground
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.
Mützenich: Russia cannot be defeated militarily
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.
Reform UK: Zia Yusuf publicly contradicts Robert Jenrick on deportation policy
Zia Yusuf, Reform UK's home affairs spokesman, has publicly stated that Robert Jenrick's remarks on deportation policy do not reflect the party line. Jenrick had previously said that foreign social housing residents would not be automatically deported.
Care reform delayed: Cabinet postpones decision
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.
Gysi misses every second vote in the Bundestag
A new analysis of roll-call votes shows that Left Party politician Gregor Gysi is absent particularly often. Union and SPD had recently tightened the rules.
Nursing care reform: Warken plans higher contribution for childless people
Health Minister Warken wants to increase the surcharge for childless people in long-term care insurance by 0.1 percentage points, according to a report by the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland.
Krakow: Referendum to Recall Tusk Ally Miszalski
A citizen initiative in Krakow has launched a referendum to recall Mayor Aleksander Miszalski and the city council. As Euronews reports, the signature collection began earlier this year. Many residents criticize the city's policies and demand Miszalski's resignation.
Farage’s Russian Hacker Claim ‘Without Any Merit’
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'.
Dobrindt Rejects Social Media Ban for Children, Says Parents Are Responsible
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) has rejected a blanket ban on social media for children, arguing that parents must take greater responsibility, according to Euronews.
SPD debates handling of AfD after Albig’s proposal
A statement by former Schleswig-Holstein Minister President Torsten Albig has reignited debate within the SPD on how to deal with the AfD. Albig recommended that the party consider minority governments tolerated by the AfD.
SPD parliamentary group rejects blanket cuts to parental allowance
The SPD parliamentary group in the Bundestag has spoken out against across-the-board savings on parental allowance. This was reported by Spiegel, citing deputy parliamentary group leader for family policy Dagmar Schmidt.
Government Trust Crisis: Why Only 13 Percent Still Have Faith in Merz
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.
Kai Wegner at Raid: Customs Investigator’s Backpack Stolen
Berlin's governing mayor Kai Wegner (CDU) took part in a major operation against organized crime. Shortly before, a customs investigator's backpack was stolen, as the Tagesspiegel reports.
Spahn questions Bafög increase – students outraged
CDU politician Jens Spahn has questioned the planned Bafög increase. Student representatives react with outrage, calling it a 'slap in the face'.
Union calls for stricter naturalization rules after record numbers
After record numbers of naturalizations in Germany, calls for stricter rules are growing within the Union. A CDU interior politician is exploring new ways to tighten regulations, as Welt reports.
AfD seven points ahead of Union: FDP gains slightly after Kubicki decision
The AfD leads the Union by seven points in a new poll. The FDP gains one percentage point after Wolfgang Kubicki's victory in the party leadership race, but remains below the five-percent threshold.
Union and SPD want to suspend pay rise for Bundestag
According to FAZ, Union and SPD want to suspend the automatic increase in parliamentary salaries this year. The monthly allowances were due to rise from 11,833 euros to 12,330 euros on July 1.
Söder: Give states more say in federal decisions
Markus Söder (CSU) is calling for greater involvement of the German states in federal government decisions, pointing to the failed tax-free bonus for employees as an example where states were bypassed.
Green MP Beck calls for higher tax-free allowance in tax reform
Katharina Beck, the Green party's financial policy spokesperson in the Bundestag, has entered the debate on income tax reform. Instead of blanket subsidy cuts, she advocates closing fairness gaps in the tax system. Specifically, she calls for raising the basic tax-free allowance to relieve low earners.
Ex-Ministerpräsident Albig recommends SPD cooperation with AfD
Former Torsten Albig (SPD) has recommended that his party consider minority governments tolerated by the AfD. Former Olaf Scholz rejects the proposal and reaffirms the firewall against the AfD.
Scholz calls criticism of firewall against AfD disturbing
Former Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) has described criticism of the so-called firewall against the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) as disturbing. In a video marking the anniversary of the Basic Law, he urged keeping the party away from power.
Bundesrat extension in Berlin-Mitte delayed again
The extension of the Bundesrat building in Berlin-Mitte will be completed even later than planned. According to Spiegel, construction time has now reached almost ten years.
Olaf Scholz to Lead New North-South Commission
Former Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) is set to chair the planned North-South Commission, which aims to strengthen ties with developing and emerging economies, according to a report by Tagesspiegel.
Investigators bust smuggling ring for Putin’s arms industry
German investigators have broken up a smuggling ring that allegedly organized multi-million-euro deliveries for Russia's defense industry. The network systematically circumvented Western sanctions, according to Welt.
Schulze rules out ministers from AfD and Left Party
Saxony-Anhalt's Minister Schulze (CDU) has made clear that there will be no ministers from the AfD or the Left Party under his leadership. At the same time, he called on the SPD to finally address spending cuts.
Kretschmer open to higher taxes on large fortunes
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.
Steinmeier makes Day of the Basic Law a day of honor for volunteers
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has declared the Day of the Basic Law a day of honor for volunteer work. According to Der Spiegel, he is traveling across Germany to lend a hand himself.
Ex-Ministerpräsident Albig advises SPD to cooperate with AfD
Former Torsten Albig (SPD) has recommended that his party consider minority governments tolerated by the AfD. He points to Denmark, where Social Democrats work with right-wing populists.