Recent Posts
Dispute Over a Study on Racism Within the German Police
by Thorsten Koch Politicians from the SPD, the Greens and the Left have expressed criticism after the refusal by Federal Minister of the Interior Seehofer (CSU) to investigate racism within the German security organs. The Greens demanded the appointment of an independent police commissioner. Sebastian…
Will Further Sanctions Stop the Nord Stream 2 Gas Pipeline? | GRI
by Thorsten Koch The Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline through the Baltic Sea is intended to transport natural gas from Russia to Europe, mainly to Germany. There are only 150 kilometres (93 miles) before the Baltic Sea pipeline is completed. Despite warnings from German politicians…
The number of people in employment is stabilizing in Germany
by Thorsten Koch The proportion of people in employment in Germany has stabilized and, in June 2020, was only 1.3 percent lower than during the same period in the previous year – despite the Corona pandemic. According to the Federal Statistical Office, around 44.7 million…
The SPD, open to form a coalition with the Left Party, nominates Scholz
by Thorsten Koch The SPD’s recently nominated candidate for Chancellor, Scholz, would like to see the SPD as the strongest force in a future Federal Government, despite low poll numbers. The upcoming coalition will be led by the SPD, said Scholz, whose candidacy, proposed by…
The German economy is positive about the prospects of recovery
by Thorsten Koch Federal Minister of Economics Altmaier would like to implement targeted measures against the Corona pandemic instead of implementing comprehensive, all-round measures. Altmaier wants to prevent a second lockdown, he pointed out in an interview. Employer President Kramer also spoke out against another…
Respecting the rules to limit the Corona pandemic – in view of an increasing number of infections in Germany
by Thorsten Koch Anyone who has traveled to risk areas as a tourist and returns to Germany must be tested for the Coronavirus from Saturday, Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) announced. A legal provision that provides for a smear examination being taken will then…
Security agencies. Haldenwang announces investigations into right-wing extremism
The head of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Haldenwang, has announced an investigation into right-wing extremism in the security authorities. Haldenwang expressed confidence that the first situation could already be available in September. Due to the individual cases, an overall view…
Left-wing radical internet platform now a suspected case
The president of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Haldenwang, has explained why Indymedia is listed as a suspected case for anti-constitutional efforts in the current report on the protection of the constitution. The Leipzig Federal Administrative Court had confirmed the ban…
Integration Commissioner for study on police racism
The Federal Government’s Integration Commissioner, Widmann-Mauz, has called on Federal Interior Minister Seehofer to allow a study of possible racism among the police. Dealing scientifically with the complex was the basis for being able to hold an objective discussion, she said. This would strengthen the…
Beuth appoints special investigators after threatening emails
The Hessian Interior Minister Beuth has emphasized that he has no evidence of a right-wing network with the Hessian police. However, threatening emails against a Frankfurt lawyer in connection with the retrieval of a data record from a police computer raised the suspicion. Beuth said:…
Motorway guidance system against traffic jams
An electronic control system on German autobahns will help prevent traffic jams in the future. It should also provide more security. Control centers are to be built in Dresden and Frankfurt, so that from 2021 the 189 motorway maintenance centers and 40 traffic control centers…
Altmaier wants to promote the reduction of bureaucracy for the upswing
Federal Minister of Economics Peter Altmaier (CDU) has suggested that the bureaucracy and liberalization in certain areas will help to overcome the recession more quickly. “We should react more flexibly to certain bureaucratic requirements in order to give companies the opportunity to make up for…
Schäuble proposes an economic union
Bundestag President Wolfgang Schäuble has campaigned to expand the monetary union of the Euro states into a fully-fledged economic union. It took courage to integrate, Schäuble wrote. Discussing aspects of financing falls short of a constructive stance, he criticized. The Corona pandemic could be seen…
Grand Coalition agrees on lobby register
The Grand Coalition agreed on a solution concerning a lobby register, which is to be established later this year. The register is intended to allow transparency in dealing with stakeholders, without making necessary contacts between parliamentarians difficult. An obligation to register should apply. A fine…
Faster availability of electric cars called for
Federal Transport Minister Scheuer (CSU) has asked the automotive industry to “speed up” electromobility. Electric cars should be available faster and in large quantities on the market. Long delivery times are a stumbling block for electromobility.
Better funding for electric vehicles
The Federal Ministry of Economics has launched an improved state subsidy for the purchase of electric cars in Germany. The directive stipulates that the amount of funding depends on the purchase price of the vehicle. This means that there is less funding for models from…
Federal Audit Office for clearer guidelines for sustainability strategy
The Federal Audit Office has appealed for more success monitoring and targeted control in the German government’s three-year sustainability strategy. So far, not all the good conditions have been created to implement the program with which the government wants to implement the UN 2030 Agenda…
Number of overnight stays: low in May
One of the industries that have been negatively impacted by the Corona pandemic is the tourism industry. The number of overnight stays fell by almost 75 percent in May compared to April. However, this is due to the initial restrictions to contain the pandemic, not…
Industry with more orders
The German industry has reported significantly more orders in May. The Federal Statistical Office reported an order intake 10.4 percent above the level of April 2020. In comparison to the previous year, orders to German industry have so far decreased by 29.3 percent.
Ifo business climate brightens up
After the corona crisis initially led to less pleasing economic effects, companies in Germany have again become more confident. The Ifo institute’s business climate index rose 6.5 points to 86.2 points in June. This is the second consecutive rise in the economic indicator after March…
Creditreform: fewer bankruptcies in the first half of the year
The credit reporting agency Creditreform expects more insolvencies in the second half of 2020 after the insolvency application will no longer be subject to the moratorium currently in force. The number of bankruptcies declined by 8.2 percent in the first half of the year, thanks,…
Economic forecast: GDP in 2022 as before the pandemic
Although the Expert Council for the Assessment of Macroeconomic Development has revised their forecast downwards for the current year, growth is expected to be 4.9 percent in 2021 and gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to return to the pre-Corona pandmic level in 2022.The Expert…
Ifo: economic ascent from the “Corona valley”
According to the Munich Ifo Institute for Economic Research, an ascent from the “Corona valley” is to be expected. Unlike in the first and second quarters, growth of 6.9 percent in the third quarter and 3.8 percent in the quarter is forecast. An Ifo scientist…
IAB barometer brightens up slightly
The monthly labor market barometer published by the Institute for Labor Market and Vocational Research (IAB) has improved, once again, in June, rising to 94.6 points compared to May. The leading indicator climbed 0.8 points. “The expectations of the employment agencies are slowly brightening again,…
Böckler Foundation: Corona affects income
The Corona pandemic has an impact on people’s incomes. According to a survey by the union-related Hans Böckler Foundation, 26 percent of those questioned stated negative effects. In April it was 20 percent. Nevertheless, the proportion of those who are concerned about their economic future…