News from Berlin
AfD seeks “fresh start” for Berlin
At a party conference in Brandenburg, the AfD lead candidate Kristin Brinker—who had already been selected in 2025—was formally designated, for the first time, as the party’s candidate for the office of Governing Mayor in Berlin. In recent polls, the party has emerged as the second-strongest party. Among the plans of the AfD for the capital, there is for instance the transformation of the State Office for Immigration into a “State Office for Immigration, Asylum, and Remigration.” The party proposed establishing a new district-level police force to support the state police. Also, according to the AfD, the German national flag should fly over every school in Berlin. Source: n-tv
Many locations in Berlin to undergo AI-powered video surveillance
Interior Senator Iris Spranger (SPD) presented a plan to have AI-powered video surveillance in the German capital. The aim is to prevent crimes by having the system alert security personnel monitoring the screens whenever it detects anomalies. Criticism of the plan has come particularly from the Green Party and “Die Linke”. Party spokespersons argued that people would feel constantly under surveillance. Furthermore, during a hearing before the Committee on Internal Affairs, a representative of the Chaos Computer Club pointed out that, based on current experience, the technology generates a high volume of false alarms. Source: rbb
Helicopter over Berlin: Bundeswehr practices evacuation of government officials
No state visit, no appointments at the Chancellery—and yet, on May 30, the white helicopter of the Ministry of Defense’s Air Transport Wing was constantly visible in the skies over Berlin. The reason for the Cougar-type helicopter flying back and forth over the federal capital was the Bundeswehr exercise “Bollwerk Bärlin 2026,” as an Air Force spokesperson confirmed upon inquiry. According to a previous statement by the Bundeswehr, soldiers from the Guard Battalion are using the exercise—which runs until June 2nd—to train, among other things, the evacuation of government officials and their secure transport to a safe location. Source: tagesspiel
Görlitzer Park must temporarily remain open during the night
Görlitzer Park in Kreuzberg must, for the time being at least, be reopened at night. The Berlin Administrative Court ruled to this effect in summary proceedings. On June 1st, a court spokesperson confirmed a corresponding announcement made by the campaign `Görli zaunfrei’. The lawsuit challenged the so-called “general administrative order” issued in February, through which the Senate had established the park’s opening hours. This ruling does not constitute a final decision by the court; that will be rendered later in the main proceedings. However, the Senate Department for the Environment immediately announced that, effective immediately, the park would no longer be locked at night. Source: rbb
News from Germany
“Just like in North Korea”
The AfD aims to take power in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania this autumn. At a party conference in Grimmen, the party adopted a moderate platform—and elected a former neo-Nazi, Dario Seifert, as its General Secretary. With virtually no opposing candidates for such influential post (“just like in North Korea,” as one delegate joked) a question arises: has Seifert clearly distanced himself from his past associations? In 2021, the Nordkurier exposed his past, quoting him as saying that he, at the age of 17, was nothing more than a “passive member.” However, a photograph showing Seifert participating in an NPD-organized “mourning march” for German victims of World War II in 2014 tells a different story. Source: t-online
Olympic Referendum: Hamburg Says “No”
Hamburg had aspired to become the host city for the 2036, 2040, or 2044 Olympic and Paralympic Games. However, the city’s citizens voted in a referendum against just that. While the final results have not yet been officially declared, the outcome is clear. In an initial statement, Hamburg’s First Mayor, Peter Tschentscher (SPD), noted that many citizens who had been looking forward to the Games were now disappointed, adding: “I, too, deeply regret this outcome.” He confirmed that he had informed the DOSB (German Olympic Sports Confederation) that Hamburg was withdrawing its bid to host the Olympic Games. Source: ndr
Back to how things used to be
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) continues to believe that militarization and making the country “fit for war” are official state policy—and do not depend on the continued existence of the current government. His latest initiative: men and women who have already served as soldiers could be compelled to participate in training exercises. On May 29, in Montreal, Canada, Pistorius confirmed that the ministry is currently drafting legislation to this effect. Currently, the principle of “dual voluntariness” (reservists and employers) applies to the Bundeswehr reserves. The draft speaks of mandatory training exercises, “the only way to truly ensure the reliable, stable buildup of a new reserve force,” Pistorius emphasized. Source: jungewelt
Less immigration to Germany
In 2025, significantly fewer people moved to Germany than in the previous year—a total of approximately 1.48 million people moved to the country, according to the Federal Statistical Office in Wiesbaden. This represents a 13% decrease compared to 2024. One reason for the decline in immigration is that fewer people arrived from the primary countries of origin for asylum seekers. For instance, net migration from Syria dropped by 67%, and from Afghanistan by 41%. A 21% decline was recorded for arrivals from Ukraine. According to the statisticians, fewer people also arrived in Germany from European Union member states. Around 97,000 more Germans left the country than returned. Source: tagesschau
