Category: Politics
Laschet wants ‘bridge lockdown’ of two to three weeks
A “bridge lockdown” proposed by CDU chairman Armin Laschet could minimize the Corona incidence value to 100 if it was maintained for two to three weeks. This way, easing of limitations in the face of the pandemic would be conceivable. Laschet said during the Morning…
Prospective candidacy for Chancellor : Markus Söder front-runner in poll
According to a survey from the end of March, conducted by ARD-DeutschlandTrend, more and more people feel that the steps against the Corona pandemic are not extensive enough – 32 percent or twelve percent more than at the beginning of March. 38 percent regard the…
Additional help for particularly affected companies
The Federal Government would like to pay out an equity grant to companies that are hit very hard by the Corona crisis and which submit a corresponding application. In this way, the substance of the companies should be strengthened directly. Apart from that, the so-called…
Bundeswehr mission in Afghanistan extended
The German Bundestag has extended the Bundeswehr’s mandate for operations in Afghanistan. For the time being, members of the military are allowed to stay until January 2022. Over 1100 German soldiers are currently serving at the Hindukush. The NATO mission ‘Resolute Support’ began some 20…
Germany grants Syrian populations 1.7 billion Euros
The German government is providing around 1.7 billion Euros for humanitarian aid to civilian populations in need in Syria. Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas announced this at an international donor conference. The situation in Syria, a country struck by civil war, is catastrophic, he deplored,…
Agreement on EU agriculture reform
The federal as well as the state ministers of agriculture have agreed on steps to implement the EU agricultural reform in Germany. The relevance of environmental requirements will be 25 percent in the future, after financial aid has so far been determined by the size…
Steinmeier appeals to sense of community in Easter address
The German Federal President, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, has appealed to citizens, in his Easter address, to take responsibility and prove social cohesion in the face of the Corona pandemic. “Let’s all get together,” he said. In the fight against the pandemic, it is not a question…
Merkel calls for a quiet Easter
In a video podcast, Chancellor Angela Merkel has called on Germans to minimize their contacts with other people during the Easter holidays. Thus, a quiet Easter in a small group would be possible. Citizens should avoid unnecessary travel so that the health system would not…
Constitutional judge emphasizes the need for proving responsibility at Corona demonstrations
The President of the Federal Constitutional Court, Stephan Harbarth, has called for participants in demonstrations to show responsibility for the measures taken against the Corona pandemic. Although demonstrations are an expression of the functionality of democracy, people must also use their civil rights “responsibly.” The…
Bedford-Strohm welcomes the possibility of face-to-face church services
The President of the Council of the Evangelical Church in Germany, Bedford-Strohm, has expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to hold face-to-face services in churches at Easter. Chancellor Angela Merkel had sent a strong signal by withdrawing from the strict Easter rest resolution. Both the…
Right-wing extremism – the greatest threat to democracy
According to a newspaper report, Federal Prosecutor General Peter Frank has called right-wing extremism “the greatest threat to our free democratic” constitutional order. Right-wing extremism has gained a “much broader ideological basis, from classic Nazi ideology to conspiracy theories to Reich citizens” over the past…
Cabinet decision against antigypsyism
As a result of a cabinet decision, the Federal Republic of Germany is the first nation state to adopt the International Alliance for Holocaust Remembrance’s working definition of antigypsyism. From now on, the definition will be the basis for political decision and within the German…
Test obligation: air travel during Easter holidays only with a negative result
Since March 30, vacationers and other passengers are allowed to travel by plane only if they can show a negative Corona test result. This restriction will initially be valid until May 12th. The test must not be older than two days. Both PCR tests and…
The CDU and CSU on course to differentiate themselves from the Greens and the SPD
by Thorsten Koch The CSU Group Leader in the German Bundestag, Alexander Dobrindt, has called for a “firewall” to be put up with regard to the Green Party. In the most recent state elections, Union voters switched to the eco-party, said Dobrindt in a meeting…
Federal President Steinmeier opts for determination against hatred and racism
Federal President Walter Steinmeier has called for people to stand up against racism. On the occasion of a UN campaign, Steinmeier wrote that racism endangers free coexistence, peaceful diversity and even democracy. The hatred has not paused during the Corona lockdown. This was proven by…
Söder wants agreement with the CDU in the run for Chancellor
The Chairman of the Christian Social Union, Markus Söder, wants unanimity between his party and the CDU with respect to the candidacy for chancellor. The candidacy is “not a race” that CDU chairman Armin Laschet and his homologue Söder carry out, but a cooperation. “The…
North Sea fishing: EU agrees with UK and Norway
The EU has reached an agreement with the UK and Norway on catches of fish from the North Sea. According to the EU Commission, there is a quarter less of the saithe species, around 2.5 percent less of plaice and around 7.5 percent less of…
For improvements in cooperation between the EU and third countries
In a video conference of the European Union, the Foreign and Interior Ministers of the member states met this week to decide how to improve cooperation with third countries. Specifically, the talks were about the questions of migration and of refugees. The EU wants to…
The word “race” will be replaced in the Basic Law
A new formulation in the Basic Law, the Federal German Constitution, was initiated today by Federal Interior Minister Seehofer and Federal Justice Minister Lambrech. The Federal Government with its ministers have to give their approval on Wednesday, and a two-thirds majority by the German Bundestag…
Corona easing: consultations concluded between the Federal Government and the governments of the Federal States
by Thorsten Koch In a consultation which dragged on for hours, the Federal Government and the State Governments agreed that there should be a step-by-step plan that results in easing the lockdown. The measures against Corona are to be extended until March 28th. An extension…
Coronavirus: general medical practitioners should also be allowed to vaccinate
According to a paper by the Federal Ministry of Health, general practitioners are to be included in the vaccinations against the Coronavirus from the second half of March. This makes it necessary to change the vaccination ordinance at federal level. From April it will be…
Opening perspectives in case of fewer infections
by Thorsten Koch The Federal and State Governments have described four opening steps in a working paper. This is limited to the event that after March 28 – until then, the corona measures are to be extended -, the number of Covid infections will decrease….
Warnings against excessive openings
The Federal Government has spoken out in favor of caution and diligence in decisions to relax the measures against the Coronavirus. Government spokesman Steffen Seibert said this in view of fewer intensive care cases, a higher number of vaccinations and rapid tests planned on the…
CDU-CSU and Social Democrats for new Corona indicators
The Union parties and the SPD do not want future measures against the coronavirus to be based solely on the incidence value. The Infection Protection Act is to be adapted in this regard. Instead of the incidence value alone, the vaccinations and the so-called R-Value…
Federal Government does not wish to generally approve Astrazeneca
The Federal Government is against changing the order of the groups of people who are to be vaccinated against the Coronavirus, after a number of Prime Ministers in their respective Federal States have campaigned for a relaxation in this area. Government spokesman Steffen Seibert said…