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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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:…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

The Federal Government has launched an aid program to help companies during the Corona crisis and to get the economy going. For three months up to and including August, it will be possible for companies and the self-employed to receive grants at their fixed costs….

Disabled people will receive tax relief from the Federal Government. The tax lump sum for disabled people increases from 3700 Euros to 7400 Euros. It is credited to the tax return without any individual evidence. The relevant law is to be passed before the end…

In order to ensure a sufficient income for students, the Federal Government will provide a bridging aid that is intended to help students living alone, who otherwise make about a third of their monthly income through jobs. Of the average monthly income of EUR 1060,…

The German Federation of Trade Unions has called for a unified basic child protection. So far, there are separate financial posts: child benefit, tax allowances, surcharges and Hartz IV benefits. These should be replaced and converted into one payment, which consists of a basic amount…

The federal government takes a share in CureVac in order to promote the development of a vaccine against the Coronavirus. As Federal Minister of Economics Peter Altmaier announced, the KfW development bank is taking over around 23 percent of the shares in the biotech company…

The Bundestag has passed a ban on tobacco advertising, which prohibits advertising of tobacco products in cinemas and the distribution of free samples outside the specialist trade from 2021. From 2022, a ban on advertising for cigarettes should apply to billboards, for tobacco heaters beginning…

The CDU-CSU in the German Bundestag has agreed on the modalities of a reform of the electoral law. The number of constituencies should thus be reduced from 299 to 280. In order to achieve this, it is necessary that seven overhang mandates be neglected. What…

by Thorsten Koch The Federation of German Criminal Police (BDK) has criticized the fact that the Federal Minister of the Interior, Seehofer, has rejected a scientific study on racial profiling within the police. Federation President Fiedler said he did not understand the reasoning that unwarranted…

Saarland’s Prime Minister Hans asked for special caution during the summer vacation. Especially parents with schoolchildren should avoid risk areas. All citizens are required to take the regional levels of infection into account when choosing their respective holiday destination. On vacation, on should adhere to…

The CDU-CSU in the Bundestag has called for greater engagement by the European Union (EU) after the United States has left the World Health Organization (WHO). “As the largest contributor to WHO to date, the US has left a great vacuum,” commented the Union’s foreign…

by Thorsten Koch Chancellor Angela Merkel emphasized in the face of the EU Council Presidency that fundamental rights in the European Union (EU) come first. The Corona pandemic is a challenge for the EU, she said. Maintaining fundamental rights such as freedom of speech, equality…