GERMANY: The Merkel succession race is only about to begin
Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrats (CDU) will vote for a new party leader at their digital convention on 16 January. However, this will not yet mark the decision about who will lead the Christian alliance (CDU/CSU) into the 26 September Bundestag elections. The … Become a member to read the rest of this article […]
GERMANY: At the Crossroads – Epidemiologically and Politically
The number of daily new infections has increased substantially over the last two weeks; up from around 2,000 to around 4,000 cases two weeks ago, it crossed the mark of 6,000 new infections last week. The seven-day rolling average of new infections is now roughly at the level of … Become a member to […]
GERMANY: Budget 2021 – A glimpse at the fault lines of post-Merkel politics
Chancellor Angela Merkel’s cabinet has signed off on the draft budget for 2021 as well as the medium-term fiscal plan until 2024. As national debt is expected to re-increase to around 80% of GDP, and the constitutional “debt brake” will be paused for another year, the fiscal deba… Become a member to read the […]
GERMANY/RUSSIA: Merkel’s statement triggers Nord Stream debate
Chancellor Angela Merkel has reacted with – by her standards – an outspoken statement to the latest news in the case of Alexei Navalny. Yesterday, medical specialists had concluded that the Russian opposition politician currently under treatment in Berlin’s Charité hospital, had… Become a member to read the rest of this article
GERMANY: Economic measures to be extended
Amid rising infection numbers, federal and regional governments are again stepping up their efforts. But as regional states keep insisting on their own powers over restrictive measures, regulations will continue to differ across the 16 states. In contrast, on the economic front, … Become a member to read the rest of this article
GERMANY: Scholz faces difficult balancing acts
Chancellor Angela Merkel’s junior coalition partners, the Social Democrats (SPD), have nominated Finance Minister Olaf Scholz as their chancellor candidate for the next Bundestag elections. The early decision – more than one year ahead of the September 2021 polls – reflects how l… Become a member to read the rest of this article
GERMANY: Enforcement order is the signpost as court’s PSPP deadline approaches
Following the May constitutional court ruling on the ECB’s public sector purchase program (PSPP), the deadline for the required proportionality assessment runs out on 5 August. However, the constitutional court will not issue any formal “assessment of the assessment” on Wednesday… Become a member to read the rest of this article
GERMANY: Merkel succession looms right after the Council presidency
Germany’s presidency of the Council of the EU starts on 1 July. Rather than forcing a complete change to the topics Berlin had planned to prioritize, the pandemic has reframed many of these issues. This counts for the relationship with China (there is still hope for a winter edit… Become a member to read […]
GERMANY: Watch Westphalia to gauge the second wave
The regional state government of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) has put the local district of Guetersloh back on full lockdown today. Schools had already closed again, and as of today, nurseries, cinemas, bars and restaurants, swimming pools and gyms will follow. Only two people of… Become a member to read the rest of this article
GERMANY: A stimulus package for consumption, investment – and green policies
After two days of talks, the grand coalition has agreed on a EUR 130bn stimulus package. EUR 120bn will come from the federal budget and 10bn from regional and local authorities. EUR 60bn are still left from the extra budget agreed earlier this year, thus somewhat limiting the a… Become a member to read […]