Archive
10 May Briefing Read full brief

A coalition Sunday spent re-arguing what the AfD costs Germany — at the desk and at the door

Marc Henrichmann (CDU), who chairs the Bundestag committee overseeing the BND, MAD and Verfassungsschutz, told Handelsblatt that AfD entry into Saxony-Anhalt would put Germany's intelligence trust chain under "considerable strain"; SPD's Fiedler said far-right ministers "ideally do not know who is being watched." Hubig plans to write femicide into Section 211; Baden-Württemberg CDU and Greens ratified the Özdemir-Hagel coalition; Klingbeil and Merz promised relief talks after the Bundesrat blocked the €1,000 bonus law; Merz called NATO solidarity intact despite the US pull-out.

Key Indicators
Full catalog · 44
In Focus

Top Stories

2
Day in Review

All Events

Every other event tracked in Germany, with a one-line preview.

2
de23

Czech Foreign Minister Criticizes Sudeten German Day in Brno, Warns Söder and Dobrindt

Czech Foreign Minister Petr Macinka has publicly criticized the decision to hold the Sudeten German Day in Brno for the first time, describing it as a 'very unfortunate development'. He warned that Bavarian Minister-President Markus Söder and German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt will not have a good time at the event, but emphasized that his remarks are not directed against Germany. Macinka also addressed Czech solidarity with Ukraine, NATO's role, and the need for EU reform, highlighting the historical context of the 1968 Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia.

Show summary

Czech Foreign Minister Petr Macinka has publicly criticized the decision to hold the Sudeten German Day in Brno for the first time, describing it as a 'very unfortunate development'. He warned that Bavarian Minister-President Markus Söder and German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt will not have a good time at the event, but emphasized that his remarks are not directed against Germany. Macinka also addressed Czech solidarity with Ukraine, NATO's role, and the need for EU reform, highlighting the historical context of the 1968 Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia.

de15

Data centers: Tech boom with downsides and strategic vulnerabilities

Data centers are expanding rapidly worldwide, driven by digitalization and AI, but their classification as critical infrastructure makes them prime targets for cyber and physical attacks, as seen in the US-Israeli war with Iran where Tehran attacked AWS data centers in Bahrain and the UAE. Local communities increasingly oppose them due to high energy and water use, e-waste, and minimal job creation, with recent protests in Chile and a legislative moratorium in Maine.

Show summary

Data centers are expanding rapidly worldwide, driven by digitalization and AI, but their classification as critical infrastructure makes them prime targets for cyber and physical attacks, as seen in the US-Israeli war with Iran where Tehran attacked AWS data centers in Bahrain and the UAE. Local communities increasingly oppose them due to high energy and water use, e-waste, and minimal job creation, with recent protests in Chile and a legislative moratorium in Maine.

Frequently Asked

5
What did Germany's governing parties warn about the AfD?
The CDU and SPD warned that an AfD state government in Saxony-Anhalt would put trust in intelligence cooperation between federal and state levels and international partners under considerable strain.
What is the current poll support for the AfD in Saxony-Anhalt?
A fresh state poll puts the AfD at a record 41 percent in Saxony-Anhalt.
Who chairs the Bundestag's Parliamentary Control Committee?
Marc Henrichmann (CDU) chairs the Bundestag's Parliamentary Control Committee, which oversees Germany's intelligence services.
What did the AfD say in response to the warnings?
AfD parliamentary manager Bernd Baumann dismissed the warnings as a 'campaign manoeuvre' to 'demonise' the party.
What other issue did the coalition face on Sunday?
The Catholic children's mission 'Die Sternsinger' criticized the appointment of an AfD MP to chair the Bundestag's Kinderkommission, calling it a politically significant signal.