A first-ever UN defeat abroad meets record gloom at home for Germany's government
Germany absorbed a double blow on June 3: its first-ever defeat in a UN Security Council election — 104 votes against Portugal's 134 and Austria's 131 — and an ARD poll showing only 13% of Germans view the economy positively, the worst reading since the euro crisis, with the AfD leading at 27% and satisfaction with the coalition at a record-low 12%. An AfD MP's written threat to a Bundeswehr colonel sharpened civil-military alarm, while Destatis reported a record 332,500 naturalizations in 2025, one in five of them Syrian nationals.
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de88Germany loses UN Security Council seat to Austria and Portugal in first-ever election defeat
Germany failed to win a non-permanent UN Security Council seat for 2027-2028, taking 104 votes in the General Assembly — well short of the 127 required two-thirds majority — while Portugal won 134 and Austria 131. It is the first time Germany has lost a Security Council election since reunification, a setback for Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, who called the result a "real disappointment" and blamed Germany's late entry into the race. DW reported that Russia waged an intense lobbying campaign against the German bid over Berlin's support for Ukraine.
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Germany loses UN Security Council seat to Austria and Portugal in first-ever election defeat
Germany failed to win a non-permanent UN Security Council seat for 2027-2028, taking 104 votes in the General Assembly — well short of the 127 required two-thirds majority — while Portugal won 134 and Austria 131. It is the first time Germany has lost a Security Council election since reunification, a setback for Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, who called the result a "real disappointment" and blamed Germany's late entry into the race. DW reported that Russia waged an intense lobbying campaign against the German bid over Berlin's support for Ukraine.
Germany failed to win a non-permanent UN Security Council seat for 2027-2028, taking 104 votes in the General Assembly — well short of the 127 required two-thirds majority — while Portugal won 134 and Austria 131. It is the first time Germany has lost a Security Council election since reunification, a setback for Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, who called the result a "real disappointment" and blamed Germany's late entry into the race. DW reported that Russia waged an intense lobbying campaign against the German bid over Berlin's support for Ukraine.
de85German economic pessimism hits new low; AfD leads at 27% in ARD poll
Only 13% of Germans view the economy positively, the lowest since the euro crisis of the late 2000s, according to an infratest dimap poll for ARD. The AfD leads the Sunday voting question with 27%, while satisfaction with the black-red coalition government fell to a record low of 12%. The economy has overtaken migration as the top concern, cited by 27% of respondents.
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German economic pessimism hits new low; AfD leads at 27% in ARD poll
Only 13% of Germans view the economy positively, the lowest since the euro crisis of the late 2000s, according to an infratest dimap poll for ARD. The AfD leads the Sunday voting question with 27%, while satisfaction with the black-red coalition government fell to a record low of 12%. The economy has overtaken migration as the top concern, cited by 27% of respondents.
Only 13% of Germans view the economy positively, the lowest since the euro crisis of the late 2000s, according to an infratest dimap poll for ARD. The AfD leads the Sunday voting question with 27%, while satisfaction with the black-red coalition government fell to a record low of 12%. The economy has overtaken migration as the top concern, cited by 27% of respondents.
de65AfD MP Erhard Brucker threatens Bundeswehr colonel after seminar ban
AfD Bundestag member Erhard Brucker sent a written threat to a Bundeswehr colonel after being denied participation in a military information seminar. In an email, Brucker stated that his party would soon come into government and that he would then contact the officer again. The letter is in the possession of Die Zeit.
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AfD MP Erhard Brucker threatens Bundeswehr colonel after seminar ban
AfD Bundestag member Erhard Brucker sent a written threat to a Bundeswehr colonel after being denied participation in a military information seminar. In an email, Brucker stated that his party would soon come into government and that he would then contact the officer again. The letter is in the possession of Die Zeit.
AfD Bundestag member Erhard Brucker sent a written threat to a Bundeswehr colonel after being denied participation in a military information seminar. In an email, Brucker stated that his party would soon come into government and that he would then contact the officer again. The letter is in the possession of Die Zeit.
de30KNDS prepares dual listing in Paris and Frankfurt as German state enters capital
Background: The German government agreed to acquire a 40% stake in KNDS ahead of its planned IPO, with voting rights remaining equal between France and Germany. Today: KNDS is preparing a simultaneous IPO on the Paris and Frankfurt stock exchanges, expected to be one of the largest in Europe in 2026. The German state will acquire a stake from the Bode-Wegmann family, which currently holds 50% of the company alongside the French state. The IPO aims to support growth amid rising European defense budgets but raises political questions about balancing the interests of two state shareholders.
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KNDS prepares dual listing in Paris and Frankfurt as German state enters capital
Background: The German government agreed to acquire a 40% stake in KNDS ahead of its planned IPO, with voting rights remaining equal between France and Germany. Today: KNDS is preparing a simultaneous IPO on the Paris and Frankfurt stock exchanges, expected to be one of the largest in Europe in 2026. The German state will acquire a stake from the Bode-Wegmann family, which currently holds 50% of the company alongside the French state. The IPO aims to support growth amid rising European defense budgets but raises political questions about balancing the interests of two state shareholders.
Background: The German government agreed to acquire a 40% stake in KNDS ahead of its planned IPO, with voting rights remaining equal between France and Germany. Today: KNDS is preparing a simultaneous IPO on the Paris and Frankfurt stock exchanges, expected to be one of the largest in Europe in 2026. The German state will acquire a stake from the Bode-Wegmann family, which currently holds 50% of the company alongside the French state. The IPO aims to support growth amid rising European defense budgets but raises political questions about balancing the interests of two state shareholders.
de28Bavarian hotel apologizes for antisemitic rejection of Israeli guest
A hotel in Bavaria, Germany, sent a message to an Israeli customer stating 'there are no Jews allowed,' prompting outrage and condemnation from Israel's consul general and the Central Council of Jews in Germany. The hotel apologized, attributing the message to frustration over fraudulent bookings, but the incident has sparked calls for an antisemitism investigation and led to Booking.com removing the hotel from its platform.
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Bavarian hotel apologizes for antisemitic rejection of Israeli guest
A hotel in Bavaria, Germany, sent a message to an Israeli customer stating 'there are no Jews allowed,' prompting outrage and condemnation from Israel's consul general and the Central Council of Jews in Germany. The hotel apologized, attributing the message to frustration over fraudulent bookings, but the incident has sparked calls for an antisemitism investigation and led to Booking.com removing the hotel from its platform.
A hotel in Bavaria, Germany, sent a message to an Israeli customer stating 'there are no Jews allowed,' prompting outrage and condemnation from Israel's consul general and the Central Council of Jews in Germany. The hotel apologized, attributing the message to frustration over fraudulent bookings, but the incident has sparked calls for an antisemitism investigation and led to Booking.com removing the hotel from its platform.
de23Germany adopts circular economy action plan to reduce import dependency
The German government has adopted a 12-point action plan to boost repair, reuse, and recycling by 2027, with €260 million initially and €305 million more by 2030. Environment Minister Carsten Schneider said the plan aims to reduce Germany's reliance on imported raw materials and increase supply security. The plan includes digital material data platforms and promoting recycled products in public procurement, though environmental groups and industry criticize a lack of binding targets.
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Germany adopts circular economy action plan to reduce import dependency
The German government has adopted a 12-point action plan to boost repair, reuse, and recycling by 2027, with €260 million initially and €305 million more by 2030. Environment Minister Carsten Schneider said the plan aims to reduce Germany's reliance on imported raw materials and increase supply security. The plan includes digital material data platforms and promoting recycled products in public procurement, though environmental groups and industry criticize a lack of binding targets.
The German government has adopted a 12-point action plan to boost repair, reuse, and recycling by 2027, with €260 million initially and €305 million more by 2030. Environment Minister Carsten Schneider said the plan aims to reduce Germany's reliance on imported raw materials and increase supply security. The plan includes digital material data platforms and promoting recycled products in public procurement, though environmental groups and industry criticize a lack of binding targets.
de18German defense minister overrides parliamentary legal opinion, maintains travel permit exemption for conscripts
Background: The German defense ministry had suspended a legal requirement for men aged 18–45 to obtain permission for foreign travel over three months, which the Bundestag's Scientific Service deemed unlawful. Today: Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) has publicly rejected that legal opinion, asserting the ministry's independent authority to issue exemptions. He argues that requiring mass applications while conscription is suspended would be unnecessary bureaucracy. A legislative fix via the Reserve Strengthening Act, expected to pass the cabinet in June, would restrict the permit requirement to times of tension or defense. The ministry will maintain the current exemption until the law takes effect.
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German defense minister overrides parliamentary legal opinion, maintains travel permit exemption for conscripts
Background: The German defense ministry had suspended a legal requirement for men aged 18–45 to obtain permission for foreign travel over three months, which the Bundestag's Scientific Service deemed unlawful. Today: Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) has publicly rejected that legal opinion, asserting the ministry's independent authority to issue exemptions. He argues that requiring mass applications while conscription is suspended would be unnecessary bureaucracy. A legislative fix via the Reserve Strengthening Act, expected to pass the cabinet in June, would restrict the permit requirement to times of tension or defense. The ministry will maintain the current exemption until the law takes effect.
Background: The German defense ministry had suspended a legal requirement for men aged 18–45 to obtain permission for foreign travel over three months, which the Bundestag's Scientific Service deemed unlawful. Today: Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) has publicly rejected that legal opinion, asserting the ministry's independent authority to issue exemptions. He argues that requiring mass applications while conscription is suspended would be unnecessary bureaucracy. A legislative fix via the Reserve Strengthening Act, expected to pass the cabinet in June, would restrict the permit requirement to times of tension or defense. The ministry will maintain the current exemption until the law takes effect.
de15German liveblog: Banaszak tax probe, UN Security Council loss, AfD court rulings, and more
A German liveblog reports multiple political developments: Berlin prosecutors investigate Green party co-leader Felix Banaszak for unpaid second-home tax since 2022; Germany fails to win a UN Security Council seat for 2027-2028, drawing opposition criticism; a court allows Hesse's domestic intelligence to classify the AfD as a suspected extremist case; the government criticizes AfD politicians attending a Russian economic forum; coalition disputes arise over BAföG student aid increases and spousal tax splitting; Culture Minister Weimer retracts calling a bookstore 'extremist' after a court ruling; Environment Minister Schneider presents a circular economy plan; naturalizations rise to 332,500 in 2025; former Chancellor Merkel warns climate change remains an existential threat; extremists in Saxony-Anhalt increase 19.4%; the Union pushes to restrict the self-determination law; Chancellor Merz supports new Hungarian PM Magyar; and science leaders criticize AfD's science policy.
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German liveblog: Banaszak tax probe, UN Security Council loss, AfD court rulings, and more
A German liveblog reports multiple political developments: Berlin prosecutors investigate Green party co-leader Felix Banaszak for unpaid second-home tax since 2022; Germany fails to win a UN Security Council seat for 2027-2028, drawing opposition criticism; a court allows Hesse's domestic intelligence to classify the AfD as a suspected extremist case; the government criticizes AfD politicians attending a Russian economic forum; coalition disputes arise over BAföG student aid increases and spousal tax splitting; Culture Minister Weimer retracts calling a bookstore 'extremist' after a court ruling; Environment Minister Schneider presents a circular economy plan; naturalizations rise to 332,500 in 2025; former Chancellor Merkel warns climate change remains an existential threat; extremists in Saxony-Anhalt increase 19.4%; the Union pushes to restrict the self-determination law; Chancellor Merz supports new Hungarian PM Magyar; and science leaders criticize AfD's science policy.
A German liveblog reports multiple political developments: Berlin prosecutors investigate Green party co-leader Felix Banaszak for unpaid second-home tax since 2022; Germany fails to win a UN Security Council seat for 2027-2028, drawing opposition criticism; a court allows Hesse's domestic intelligence to classify the AfD as a suspected extremist case; the government criticizes AfD politicians attending a Russian economic forum; coalition disputes arise over BAföG student aid increases and spousal tax splitting; Culture Minister Weimer retracts calling a bookstore 'extremist' after a court ruling; Environment Minister Schneider presents a circular economy plan; naturalizations rise to 332,500 in 2025; former Chancellor Merkel warns climate change remains an existential threat; extremists in Saxony-Anhalt increase 19.4%; the Union pushes to restrict the self-determination law; Chancellor Merz supports new Hungarian PM Magyar; and science leaders criticize AfD's science policy.