(de-news.net) – Reiner Haseloff (CDU), Saxony-Anhalt’s Minister-President, advocates for the continuation of the solidarity surcharge, emphasizing its necessity in financing the welfare state. He argues that, rather than introducing new taxes, the surcharge should be extended pragmatically, particularly given the challenging economic climate. This follows…

(de-news.net) – A consensus proposal has been reached during the arbitration process concerning the collective bargaining round for over 2.6 million public sector employees in Germany. The arbitration commission, chaired by Robert Koch (CDU) and Henning Lühr (SPD), reached a majority agreement despite challenging initial…

(de-news.net) – About one year after the German Bundestag approved the implementation of payment cards for refugees, municipalities have criticized the länder for unsatisfactory implementation. The approach varies significantly across states, with some decisions delegated to the municipalities – a practice deemed ineffective by André…

(de-news.net) – A group of experts and employer associations has issued a reform proposal for resolving collective labor disputes. Hagen Lesch, of the Institute of the German Economy, stated that ongoing debates about strengthening the ultima ratio principle through statutory arbitration mechanisms had been the…

(de-news.net) – Alexander von Preen, President of the German Retail Association (HDE), has advocated for increased flexibility in Sunday opening regulations. He emphasized that municipalities and retailers should independently decide which Sundays to open, underscoring the need for legal clarity. Von Preen criticized the mandatory…

(de-news.net) – Julia Klöckner (CDU) has been elected President of the 21st German Bundestag. During the inaugural session, she received 382 out of 622 votes. Previously, Klöckner had served as Federal Minister of Agriculture (2018–2021), introducing policies like the male chick culling ban and Nutri-Score….

(de-news.net) – Following the stalemate of wage negotiations in the public sector, a mediation phase has now commenced. The commission in charge, chaired by former Hessian Prime Minister Roland Koch and former Bremen State Councilor Henning Lühr, is tasked with reaching a compromise for federal…

(de-news.net) – SPD General Secretary Matthias Miersch has expressed optimism regarding the formation of a coalition with the Union parties, emphasizing that compromises would be reached even on contentious issues. He acknowledged the challenges inherent, referencing the electoral campaign where the parties often represented divergent…

(de-news.net) – Efforts to combat sexualized violence against children and adolescents are going to be intensified through structural enhancements and expanded measures of prevention. The Federal Council approved the Anti-Abuse Act, which mandates the publication of a report at least once per legislative term on…

(de-news.net) – The Bundesrat has ratified constitutional amendments addressing debt limitations and the establishment of a dedicated infrastructure fund. These amendments, integral to a debt package previously endorsed by the Bundestag, necessitated a two-thirds majority in the Bundesrat, which was secured with 53 votes from…

(de-news.net) – The Federal Association of German Industry (BDI) underscores significant cost-saving opportunities arising from Germany’s transition to sustainable energy systems. A comprehensive analysis commissioned by the BDI and conducted by the consulting firm Boston Consulting Group projects that an optimized implementation of the energy…

(de-news.net) – CDU leader Friedrich Merz questions the timeline for coalition negotiations with the SPD, suggesting that extended discussions might be necessary as Merz indicated his intention to make challenging decisions regarding social expenditures in the coming weeks. He emphasized the necessity of a comprehensive…