NEWS FROM BERLIN
Banks terminate “Rote Hilfe” accounts
“Rote Hilfe e. V.” is a nationwide left-wing solidarity organization with around 19,000 members that has been in existence for over 100 years. It supports people who are affected by state repression because of their political activism. Within a few days, two banks ended their cooperation with the association, the Sparkasse Göttingen, followed shortly by GLS Gemeinschaftsbank. Sparkasse banks are required by law to provide public services. GLS Bank is not only a socially and ecologically oriented banking institution, but a cooperative bank, as well. According to “Rote Hilfe”, the terminations are directly related to the decision by the US government under Donald Trump to list the so-called “Antifa Ost” as a foreign terrorist organization. Source: rote hilfe
Public transportation in Berlin and Brandenburg will become more expensive in 2026
From January 1 on, prices in the Berlin-Brandenburg Transport Association will increase. Single tickets in fare zone AB in Berlin will then cost 4 euros for the first time. For 2026, the Berlin-Brandenburg Transport Association (VBB) will implement price increases for public transportation in the average of 6%. In the cities of Brandenburg an der Havel, Frankfurt (Oder), and Cottbus, single tickets will increase by 20 cents. The nationwide “Germany Ticket” will also rise, with the price for its monthly subscription going from the current €58 to €63 – an increase of over 8%. Source: tagesspiel
Sharp increase in racism in Berlin
The recently published Anti-Discrimination Report 2023/2024 by the Anti-Discrimination Network Berlin (ADNB) shows a significant increase in racism in the German capital. There were almost 20% more cases of racist discrimination recorded compared to 2021 and 2022. “This sharp increase exceeds the trend in reports in the years prior to 2023,” says the report, which has been published since 2003. This was mainly due to cases of racial discrimination in the context of demonstrations in solidarity with Palestine, which were reported to the ADNB. A total of 1,957 people contacted the ADNB in 2023/2024, and 891 cases were registered. In 2024, the ADNB recorded the most official cases with the police. Source: nd-aktuell
Fewer demonstrations in Berlin in 2025 than in the previous year
Significantly fewer people demonstrated in Berlin in 2025 than in 2024. At the same time, there were more demonstrations related to the Middle East. Between January 1 and December 1 of 2025, the police counted a total of 6,501 demonstrations and gatherings in the capital, as they reported to the Evangelical Press Service (epd). Last year, there were 7,212, which is about 700 more gatherings. In 2025, 865 demonstrations were related to the Middle East. That was 100 more than in the previous year. The largest demonstration (500,000 participants) was Christopher Street Day. In second place, there was the one “For Democracy/Firewall”. The police counted around 160,000 participants, while the organizers, up to 250,000. Source: rbb
NEWS FROM GERMANY
German cabinet replacing “Bürgergeld” with “Neue Grundsicherung”
The German federal cabinet have agreed to scrap the “Bürgergeld” long-term unemployment benefit and replace the payment with “Neue Grundsicherung” (“New Basic Support”). The change still needs to be approved by the Bundestag. If it passes, it will apply from July 1, 2026. The government’s aim in doing so is to limit the number of people who claim long-term unemployment benefits, and such change is expected to demand more requirements from claimants. For instance, those who miss two appointments at Jobcentres might have their support money cut by 30%. Social organisations such as the Diakonie and the Paritätischer Gesamtverband (Parity Association) criticise such benefit sanctions. Source: iamexpat
