NEWS FROM BERLIN
Police will continue intervening against the “From the River to the Sea” slogan
The Berlin police will continue intervening whenever the pro-Palestinian slogan “From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free” is shouted, despite contrary rulings. If the public prosecutor’s office believes the slogan is criminal, the police must record personal details so that a legal assessment of the situation is possible later. However, considering the rulings by Berlin courts rejected the criminality of the slogan, which questions Israel’s right to exist, there is uncertainty among the police. Given the large number of demonstrations in the capital in the context of the Middle East conflict, security is important for the emergency services, affirmed the spokesperson Anja Dierschke. Source: BZ
Berlin plans job rules for former senators
The Berlin Senate wants to introduce rules regarding conflicts of interest for former senators transitioning to new professional activities. Until now, former senators in Berlin have been allowed to take on almost any new position—even with former negotiating partners. A law changing this is to be passed before the next House of Representatives election, in September 2026. Under the new rules, senators who have left office will have to notify the Senate of any employment outside the public service within the following 24 months. “According to the draft bill, employment can generally be prohibited for twelve months, or a maximum of 24 months, during this period,” Senate Speaker Christine Richter said. Source: rbb
The Green Party accuses Berlin Senate of using Tempelhof housing debate as a distraction
According to the Senate, the battle over Tempelhofer Feld is back. Not for Werner Graf, head of the Greens in Berlin’s parliament. He calls the discussion “nothing but a distraction” from the CDU-SPD coalition’s failure to deliver on actual housing projects. “Berlin doesn’t have a land problem, it has an implementation problem,” Graf told the German Press Agency. He mentioned for instance delays at the Schumacherquartier (Tegel), Molkenmarkt (Mitte) and Güterbahnhof (Köpenick). “If CDU and SPD focused on getting those built, we’d achieve a lot more than wasting time and money debating Tempelhofer Feld.” Source: theberliner
NEWS FROM GERMANY
Die Linke leader believes raising the age is possible
Die Linke leader Ines Schwerdtner can imagine a slightly higher retirement age: “If it’s a moderate increase, we can talk about it.” However, she emphasized that “we don’t need a retirement age of 70.” An increase in the pension level could be financed “by everyone simply contributing to the pension, including freelancers, self-employed individuals, and members of parliament.” In addition, the contribution assessment ceiling must be raised. “A fairer pension system” is necessary, emphasized the Die Linke leader. Economics Minister Katherina Reiche recently called for a longer working life. The SPD, the Greens, and Die Linke criticized Reiche’s proposal. Source: n-tv
Merz plans Europe’s strongest army
Germany is implementing the most profound change in its security policy since the end of the Cold War. For instance, around 5,000 soldiers are to be permanently stationed in Lithuania by 2027. The measure is part of a realignment of the Bundeswehr, which, according to Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU), is to be developed into “the strongest conventional army in Europe.” As The Economist reports, the brigade in Lithuania is the most visible symbol of the security policy shift initially initiated in 2022 by Merz’s predecessor, Olaf Scholz (SPD). According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Germany already has the fourth-highest defense budget in the world. Source: BZ
Approval of the Federal Government falls
Approximately 100 days after Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) took office, the federal government is in a worse position than ever. According to the ARD’s “Deutschlandtrend” survey, the CDU and SPD coalition has reached a new low in public approval ratings. The assessment shows that 29% of respondents are currently satisfied with the government’s work. This is the worst result since the federal government took office in early May. Chancellor Merz is also losing significant trust: the Infratest dimap survey found that only 32% are currently satisfied with his work. Conflicts such as the dispute over the electricity tax and the failed judicial election might be behind such outcomes. Source: BZ
Open letter from the scientific community to end cooperation with Israel
An open letter, with the signatures of over 300 respected German scientists from universities and research institutions in the country and abroad, declares their refusal to cooperate “with the Israeli state and with Israeli institutions involved in illegal occupation, apartheid, genocide, and other violations of international law.” They note that they “are following the example of the Uppsala Declaration written by colleagues in Sweden.” Not a single German media outlet has reported on the document. Itidal, committed to checking facts, publishes the full content of the open letter. Source: itidal
