Background: The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) federal leadership demanded that the North Rhine-Westphalia state board cancel and restart the candidate selection process for the 2027 state election, citing threats and pressure on delegates during a meeting in Marl, amid an internal power struggle between factions supporting co-leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla. The power struggle escalated into physical altercations and a deliberate blockade tactic during the convention, with delegates from the Helferich faction submitting up to 90 candidates, each requiring eight minutes of presentation time, deliberately slowing the process to a crawl. Only 22 of the 90 candidates were elected in the first three days. Two Bundestag members, Matthias Helferich and Knuth Meyer-Soltau, filed mutual criminal complaints with the Dortmund public prosecutor's office after an alleged physical confrontation. The federal board, led by Weidel and Chrupalla, demanded the convention be canceled, but NRW state leader Martin Vincentz refused, and the convention continued. Weidel supporters, including Sven Tritschler and Helferich, then walked out, hoping the federal leadership would intervene by expelling members or removing the state board. The dispute also involved a letter from Vincentz accusing Weidel of failing to distance herself from 'antifa-like excesses' at the convention.

Germany will participate in a French nuclear exercise called Poker, which simulates a nuclear strike, by the end of 2026, as announced by Presidents Macron and Chancellor Merz after a Franco-German defense council. This unprecedented bilateral cooperation aims to strengthen deterrence in Europe, complementing NATO nuclear sharing arrangements. A Rafale and two German Eurofighters conducted a joint refueling and maneuvers on July 17.

Background: Macron and Merz held their final joint ministerial council, pledging deeper defense and EU cooperation. Today: The two leaders demonstrated Franco-German unity through multiple meetings and joint events, including Merz's attendance at the Bastille Day parade on July 14, the first German chancellor to do so since Angela Merkel in 2019. The parade, themed 'Europe's strategic awakening,' was the largest since Macron took office in 2017. Germany agreed to participate in the first military exercises of the 'coalition of the willing' in Poland. Despite ongoing differences on energy and fiscal policy, they are advancing cooperation on nuclear deterrence, with German troops expected to join a French nuclear exercise this fall for the first time. The prospect of Marine Le Pen winning the 2027 French presidential election hangs over the partnership, with experts warning of a severe stress test for Franco-German relations.