- Aug 23
Merz returns to Berlin facing CDU dissent, cabinet retreat and state elections
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz ended a 23-day summer break, returning to Berlin ahead of a CDU presidium meeting, a cabinet retreat at Schloss Neuhardenberg, and three state elections in September.
- Jul 14
At Ahr valley memorial, Steinmeier recalls 2021 flood deaths and warns Germany is still not ready for the next one
Bundespräsident Frank-Walter Steinmeier led memorials in Düsseldorf and the Ahr valley on Tuesday for the 184-188 victims of the July 2021 flood, calling the disaster an unmistakable warning that Germany has yet to fully answer.
- Jun 25
Germany's federal and state governments agree to cover 80% of new municipal costs from September
After months of negotiations, Chancellor Merz and state premiers agreed on a 'who orders, pays' principle, with the federal government covering 80% of new costs imposed on municipalities from September 1.
- Jun 12
Germany's health insurance reform faces blistering critique from opposition and states as Bundestag begins debate
Health Minister Nina Warken's proposal to close a €19 billion deficit in statutory health insurance draws a chorus of condemnation from Greens, Left, and AfD while federal states warn the cuts endanger rural hospitals and innovation.
