Month: May 2020
Hans for car purchase premiums – under conditions
Purchase premiums for passenger cars should only be paid for environmentally friendly technology, the Saarland Prime Minister Tobias Hans (CDU) has emphasized. Support for the automotive industry was important to him, Hans said, and purchase bonuses could be part of a large package to stimulate…
Lufthansa Supervisory Board examining alternatives
The Lufthansa Supervisory Board postponed the vote on the acceptance of the rescue package for the airline, in the amount of 9 billion euros. The committee justified possible conditions, the committee justified. These could be such that Lufthansa take-off and landing rights at certain locations…
Raids against 31 Reich citizens
Prosecutors and police forces have been active in the two federal states of Baden-Württemberg and Hesse as part of large-scale raids against the so-called Reich citizens. The State Criminal Police Office in Stuttgart announced in a press release that apartments by 31 suspects were searched….
Capping Bundestag seats: constitutional or not?
The electoral law reform, with a limitation on the number of deputies, is in accordance with the constitution, at least according to two experts on constitutional law. The SPD had commissioned the expert reports. In his report, the Berlin law professor Ulrich Battis wrote that…
Bundestag votes for extension of anti-piracy mission
With a large majority, the Bundestag has decided that up to 400 Bundeswehr soldiers would continue to participate in a mission against piracy. The Atalanta mission, led by the EU and is designed to ensure international shipping, is about controls off the coast of Somalia,…
Schäuble warns against hijacking of demonstrations
President of the Bundestag, Wolfgang Schäuble, has warned people who want to take part in demonstrations against the Corona requirements not to get hijacked. He has campaigned to respect not only health, but also political distance rules. Schäuble spoke out against conspiracy theorists, above all….
President of the Federal Council: standing together against Corona
The Prime Minister of the State of Brandenburg, Dietmar Woidke (SPD), has advocated a uniform approach to the Corona crisis. With regard to contact restrictions, the imperative of distance and the obligation to wear a mask, the understanding of the population is greater if everyone…
Corona crisis: agreement on a protective framework
by Thorsten Koch German Chancellor Angela Merkel has spoken out in favor of joint action by the federal and state governments. There should be agreement on fundamental questions. Merkel spoke of a common protective framework until at least June 29. Merkel emphasized that a careful…
Habeck proposes right to vote from the age of 16
The Green leader Robert Habeck wants to grant a right to vote for young people from the age of 16, for the next federal elections already. This should allow more democratic participation for young people. Habeck emphasized that the youth had shown a sense of…
Billions of Euros for the railways?
by Thorsten Koch The German government wants to help Deutsche Bahn in the corona crisis. There are no plans to cut jobs, but austerity measures will be taken. The Federal Audit Office has uttered slight criticism of the proposals to mobilize up to 8.4 billion…
EU Commission proposes aid package of 750 billion Euros
by Thorsten Koch The EU Commission would like to provide 750 billion euros to support the economy of member states suffering from the Corona crisis. 500 billion Euros should flow as non-repayable grants. 250 billion Euros are to be granted as loans. Italy and Spain…
Electricity: Altmaier backs relief for citizens
Federal Minister of Economics Peter Altmaier (CDU) believes that a reduction in the price of electricity is possible as part of the forthcoming stimulus package from the Federal Government, which is intended to boost the economy again as a result of the Corona crisis. The…
Kramp-Karrenbauer: “Hands off the minimum wage”
by Thorsten Koch A proposal by economic policy makers within the Union parties has raised criticism from many sides, namely to abstain from raising the statutory minimum wage in 2021 – or even to lower its rate. CDU chairwoman Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer opposed calls to freeze…
Parts of Union parties favor abolishing solidarity surcharge
Parts of the Union faction in the Bundestag want to abolish the solidarity surcharge, an additional tax, on July 1. This emerges from a draft resolution, which specifies the goal of strengthening purchasing power within the population. The SPD had also campaigned for the surcharge…
SPD chairs want Mützenich for Chancellor, sources
The SPD party leadership would like the SPD parliamentary group leader in the Bundestag, Rolf Mützenich, as candidate for Chancellor for the 2021 federal election. Cicero magazine, citing SPD leadership circles, wrote that Mützenich was the preferred candidate of party leaders Saskia Esken and Norbert…
Transfers into job-training positions to be encouraged
Companies which come to employ, in succession, trainees laid off by insolvent companies could receive a government premium. The federal government, the federal states, business and trade unions have agreed on a catalog of measures in an “Alliance for training and further education”. Thanks to…
Habeck suggests more funding for young people
Green party leader Robert Habeck campaigns for short-time work allowance for trainees – from day one instead of after six weeks, as is currently the case. The state should completely replace net shortfalls in remuneration, Habeck said. In addition, Habeck proposed emergency aid to be…
Bundeskartellamt clears takeover of Rhön-Klinikum
by Thorsten Koch According to the German authority for economic regulation, the Bundeskartellamt, the hospital chain Asklepios, which is privately owned, can take over the operator Rhön-Klinikum. “There is no spatial overlap in the vast majority of Asklepios and Rhön clinic locations,” commented the President…
Söder calls for a stronger normative role for the Federal Government
by Thorsten Koch While Baden-Württemberg’s Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann (Greens) no longer wants to discuss the course of action in the looming Corona pandemic with the Federal Government, Bavarian Minister Markus Söder (CSU) is demanding more competencies for the federal government. Federal Minister of Health…
Ramelow for distance requirements and face masks despite easing
by Thorsten Koch Thuringia’s Prime Minister Bodo Ramelow (Left) wants to continue to get out of many Corona restrictions despite numerous critical voices. He said the crisis mode should be ended. The aim is to go into control mode. State interference in fundamental rights is…
Travel warnings should be replaced by information
by Thorsten Koch The German Federal Government wants to partially cancel its worldwide travel warning. Travel is to be made possible to 31 Schengen countries and to Great Britain from June 15 if the infection situation in the wake of the Corona pandemic permitted such….