NEWS FROM BERLIN

Remembering and fighting

Solidarity with the Palestinian struggle for freedom, the call for peace, and the necessity of socialism played a central role during the 29th International Rosa Luxemburg Conference, organised by junge Welt, with a record attendance of 3,700. “Viva Palestine” could also be heard as the kilometer-long commemoration demo marched under red flags to the cemetery where Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg, murdered 105 years ago, are buried. Solidarity with Palestine was, however, the trigger for brutal police attacks. Among the 16 demonstrators arrested, according to the police, were several musicians from the Anatolian Grup Yorum, currently on hunger strike for comrades imprisoned in West Germany. Source: jW

Thousands of demonstrators protest against traffic light policy

Thousands of farmers, tradespeople, and transporters demonstrated against the policies of the German government in front of the Brandenburg Gate on Monday. Joachim Rukwied, president of a farmers’ association, demanded that additional burdens on agriculture be cancelled. In addition to the farmers, the transport industry also called on the federal government to change course. “Our industry has had enough too,” said Dirk Engelhardt, spokesman for the Federal Association of Road Freight Transport, Logistics and Disposal (BGL). Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) was loudly insulted and booed at the demonstration. Lindner referred to the need to make savings, offering in return a reduction in bureaucracy and more entrepreneurial freedom. Source: rbb24

NEWS FROM GERMANY

Right-wing secret plan against Germany

On 25 November, at a hotel near Potsdam, a meeting that looked like a chamber play took place – but it was reality. A group of politicians (AfD, CDU), neo-Nazis and businesspeople were there to hear about secret plans. Their most important goal: “Remigration,” the ability to expel people from Germany based on racist criteria, regardless of whether they have a German passport or not. Although this “conference” was secret, copies of letters were leaked to CORRECTIV, and its team was able to film undercover at the hotel. In addition, Greenpeace researched the meeting and provided CORRECTIV with photos and copies of documents. Source: correctiv

Thousands demonstrate in Potsdam and Berlin for democracy and against the right-wing

Following the revelations about the meeting between radical right-wingers and AfD politicians in Brandenburg, thousands of people demonstrated for democracy in Potsdam. Demonstrations are also taking place in Berlin, at the Brandenburg Gate. Mayor Mike Schubert (SPD), who called for the Potsdam rally, talked of 10,000 participants. The demonstrators held up placards with slogans such as “We stick together.” Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) were among those taking part. Source: rbb24

New faces, but only three women

“One for all” is written on the banner of the self-proclaimed first “democratic-Christian-social coalition,” which will govern the federal state of Hesse after the constituent session of the Hessian state parliament. Boris Rhein, as re-elected Minister President of Hesse, and Nancy Faeser, as Federal Minister of the Interior, will remain in office. In his second cabinet, Minister-President Rhein relies on many new and significantly younger members of staff. However, in addition to Rhein and seven other men, there are only three women in the twelve-person cabinet, falling short of the 25% quota that Rhein himself had announced. Source: taz

Perpetrators are bad judges

Africa is becoming increasingly important, and Germany, according to official statements, strives for a “partnership of equals.” However, as the International Court of Justice in The Hague started hearings in South Africa’s lawsuit against Israel for genocide in Gaza, Germany rejected South Africa’s accusations. The German government also failed to mention that the same day was the 120^th anniversary of the start of the German genocide against the Herero and the Nama people. Namibia’s president now accuses Germany of not having learned any lessons from its own history. Source: taz

NEWS FROM BERLIN

Berlin cultural administration introduces anti-discrimination clause

The Berlin Senate Department for Culture and Social Cohesion intends to add an anti-discrimination clause to grants with immediate effect. This measure is intended to strengthen the prevention of discrimination and anti-Semitism. Cultural institutions and funding bodies are responsible for ensuring that no racist, anti-Semitic, queer-hostile or other marginalising forms of expression are promoted with public funds, said Culture Senator Joe Chialo (CDU) in the press release. “Art is free! But not without rules,” he emphasised. All potential recipients of funding should also ensure the funds do not benefit any organisation that is classified as extremist or terrorist. The decision effectively means that any artist in Berlin who criticises the State of Israel could have all state funding removed. Source: rbb

BVG will have subsidies cut after not providing reliable transport services

Transport Minister for Berlin Manja Schreiner (CDU) had announced the Berlin’s CDU-SPD city’s government will withhold almost 9 million euros in subsidies from the Berlin’s public transport association (BVG), due to the transport association’s failure to uphold its side of a contract with the German capital. “As customers we expect the BVG to provide the agreed services”, Schreiner told Berliner Zeitung in an interview. She explained yet that this response is based on two specific disruptions; the atypical timetable and limited U-Bahn services due to a partial-route service on the U6 line. Source: iamexpat

Celebrities should encourage Berliners to vote

In five weeks’ time, on February 11, more than half a million Berliners will be called to vote in the Bundestag election. This day happens also to be the last day of the winter holidays. State electoral officer Stephan Bröchler is concerned about voter turnout and is has launched a campaign. With the help of celebrities, the state of Berlin wants to motivate people to take part in the partial rerun of the Bundestag elections in next February. Bröchler added that there is already an address search function on the state electoral officer’s website “wahlen.berlin.de”. Source: rbb

Berlin teacher fined for comparing COVID vaccines to Holocaust

The Tiergarten Local Court in Berlin court fined a 62-year-old vocational college teacher €3,000 last Thursday for comparing COVID-19 vaccine mandates to the Holocaust. The presiding judge said comparing coronavirus vaccines to the Holocaust “is a trivialisation”. The statement was similar to a ruling quoting a previous decision by the Berlin Higher Regional Court in another similar case. In an online video, the teacher altered the infamous Nazi motto “Arbeit macht frei” for “Impfen macht frei” (“vaccination sets you free.)” Denying the Holocaust is illegal in Germany, as is trivialising the crimes committed under Nazi rule. Source: dw

NEWS FROM GERMANY

2023 sees German carbon emissions drop to its lowest level since the 1950s

A study by the energy think tank ‘Agora Energiewende’ revealed 2023 saw Germany’s lowest carbon dioxide emissions since the 1950s. However, experts have said the findings should be looked at more closely. In 2023 Germany emitted 673 million tonnes of carbon dioxide – around 70 million tonnes fewer than in 2022. According to Agora, this brings the country’s 2023 emissions 46 percent lower than in 1990. A reduction in coal-fired power and output by energy-intensive industries were the greatest contributors to the reduction. Source: iamexpat

German rail union plans more strikes

Germany’s GDL train drivers’ union (“Gewerkschaft Deutscher Lokomotivführer“) announced last Sunday further strike action as talks with state-owned rail operator Deutsche Bahn (DB) appeared to be deadlocked. The union had announced a strike in passenger transport starting early Wednesday, Jan 10, and lasting until Friday evening, Jan 12. The two sides have been trying to agree on a deal on working hours, with GDL wanting hours cut from 38 to 35 per week without affecting pay. In addition to shorter working hours, the union GDL is also looking for a pay hike of €555 ($606) per month and an inflation compensation bonus for its members. Source: dw

Farmers take to the streets

The German Farmers’ Association had called for a week of action that will culminate in a large demonstration in Berlin next Monday, Jan 15th. A total of 10,000 participants have been registered, who will in all likelihood arrive in the capital with thousands of tractors. This means that massive traffic obstructions are once again expected in Berlin and surrounding areas. The protests are directed against the traffic light government’s plans to phase out tax breaks for agricultural diesel. The subsidy is to be phased out gradually and will no longer be paid at all from 2026. The federal government launched these plans last Monday. Source: rbb

“We don’t want right-wingers at our demos”

The President of the German Farmers’ Association (“Deutscher Bauernverband” – DBV) Joachim Rukwied has declared the participation of right-wing groups in next week’s farmers’ protests to be undesirable. “We are democrats and political change takes place – if at all – through voting in the polling booth,” said the DBV President. The DBV Association called for this weeks nationwide protests against the federal government’s policies. The farmers’ anger was fuelled by planned cuts in subsidies for the sector in the wake of the budget crisis. Source: tagesschau

NEWS FROM BERLIN

Berlin police failure: 10 cases of unaddressed racism

In recent years, Department 533 of the Berlin State Criminal Police Office did not process at least ten cases of bodily harm and grievous bodily harm with a suspected racist background. They are part of 387 cases that the Commissariat for State Security did not pursue from 2018 to 2023. These cover a wide range of simple offenses to serious crimes: arson, coercion, several accusations of incitement, insults, and the use of unconstitutional license plates. The list comes from the Senate’s response to a written question from Left MPs Niklas Schrader and Ferat Koçak, according to the Tagesspiegel. Source: nd-aktuell

Labour market in Berlin almost unchanged, but in Brandenburg more unemployed

While the number of people without a job in Berlin stagnated at the end of 2023, it rose in Brandenburg – albeit seasonally. At the same time, the number of employees subject to social insurance contributions also rose in Berlin. “Berlin continues to see an increase in employment and job registrations,” said Ramona Schröder, head of the Berlin-Brandenburg regional directorate. The demand for labour also remains high. More than 19,700 vacancies were registered in Berlin last month. In Brandenburg, the number of unemployed people rose last December, with 1,650 more than in November. Nevertheless, there were a total of 44,400 vacancies in the region. Source: rbb24

NEWS FROM GERMANY

Growing concern about possible AfD election successes

With a view to the upcoming elections in eastern Germany, the former President of the Federal Constitutional Court, Andreas Voßkuhle, warned of the consequences of the AfD making a breakthrough. “The AfD as the strongest parliamentary group in one or more state parliaments would turn Germany’s political landscape upside down.” Next September, the state parliaments in Saxony, Thuringia, and Brandenburg will hold elections. In all of those states, the AfD is by far the strongest party in the polls. European elections will also be held on 9 June and local elections are expected in 9 out of 16 federal states. Source: IslamiQ

Germany’s 2024 economic outlook

The German economy may see a little growth this year, but so far everything is pointing to a lackluster year. German exports will probably not be able to boost the economy enough. Looking back, economists and industry associations have rarely been so unanimous in their views: 2023 was a year of stagnation. It will take some time until the official figures are available, but the German economy likely shrank last year. Among the reasons are rising prices and the sluggish global economy, and the reduced governmental budget for 2024. Source: dw

Germans are falling out of love with online shopping

According to a recent survey by Postbank, the coronavirus-inspired online shopping boom has reached its peak in Germany, with more people going back to physical stores. Of the 3,038 people who took part in the survey, just 26 percent said that they do half of their shopping on the internet, compared to 32 percent in 2022. Companies destroying returns is a major concern holding consumers back from “adding to basket.” “Shopping behaviour is returning to normal after the end of coronavirus restrictions,” said Thomas Brosch, Head of Digital Sales at Postbank. “For younger people, however, online shopping is here to stay.” Source: iamexpat

NEWS FROM BERLIN

Antisemitic attack on bar in Berlin-Lichtenberg

A new episode of antisemitic vandalism against the neighbourhood bar “Morgen wird besser” means that the venue has now been targeted three times this year. The bar is Jewish-owned and has repeatedly been the subject of antisemitic attacks. In 2020 an arson attack almost destroyed its entire interior. According to the Tagesspiegel, the owner said the situation left him feeling “desperate”, but also spoke of the great solidarity shown by the local neighbourhood. The Antisemitism Research and Information Centre (RIAS) reported October 2023 as having the highest number of such incidents since they started collecting data in 2015. Source: exberliner

Fewer buses in Berlin from December 10

Bad news for commuters and others who rely on public transport: the Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG) announced that its bus services will be reduced from December 10, as the city struggles to cope with a shortage of drivers. According to Rolf Erfurt, BVG’s operations director, the company has not yet decided which bus lines will be affected, but he promised such reductions will be evenly distributed across the city. The changes are planned to primarily affect services taking place outside of peak times, and large schools and hospitals should remain well-serviced. Erfurt said, however, that the cut was unavoidable given the tense situation on the labour market. Source: iamexpat

More than 10 criminal charges after pro-Palestinian demonstration in Mitte

Following a pro-Palestinian demonstration with around 2,000 participants in Berlin-Mitte last weekend, the police filed 13 criminal charges. The charges were for offences such as incitement to hatred or displaying signs of unconstitutional organisations, a police spokesman mentioned. The demonstration entitled “Stop the genocide in Gaza” marched through Wedding, Prenzlauer Berg and Mitte last Saturday. According to the police, isolated criminal statements were expressed. A second demonstration from Oranienplatz in Kreuzberg to Puschkinallee, entitled “Solidarity with Palestine,” took place without incident. Source: rbb24

NEWS FROM GERMANY

Court mandates that the government should take additional climate measures

Following a judgement by the Berlin-Brandenburg Higher Administrative Court, the Federal Government must adopt additional immediate measures to reduce greenhouse gases from transport and buildings. This was decided by the court last Thursday following legal action by Deutsche Umwelthilfe and the environmental organisation BUND. The organisations had gone to court because, in their view, the responsible ministries had not acted sufficiently when the permitted amount of greenhouse gases was exceeded in the two sectors. The German government is considering an appeal. The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, headed by Robert Habeck (Greens), said in response to an enquiry: “The court has expressly allowed the appeal.” Source: focus

Rent debts: around 30,000 forced evictions in 2022

Rent debts led to the forced eviction of tens of thousands of flats last year. More than 27,319 flats were evicted in 2022, according to an answer from the federal government to an inquiry by MP Caren Lay (Left Party). In Berlin, the number of evictions rose particularly dramatically compared to the previous year. According to the federal government, there were 1,931 evictions in the capital, compared to 1,668 in 2021. Brandenburg and Bremen were also disproportionately affected, considering the number of inhabitants. Lay demanded that eviction notices for back rent payments be cancelled and that “evictions into homelessness” be prohibited. Source: nd

November train punctuality worst in years

According to the Bild am Sonntag newspaper, almost half the high-speed, long-distance trains of German rail operator Deutsche Bahn (DB) were delayed last month. Moreover, DB was at its least punctual in eight years in November. A Deutsche Bahn spokesman said three-quarters of long-distance trains had been delayed by at least one construction site on railway tracks. The statistics do not include trains less than six minutes late, as DB classifies those as on-time. The company told the Bild that because of the “massive backlog in renovation” work, DB “had to expand considerably its construction operations during this year.” Source: dw

New report: right-wing extremism on the rise

Right-wing extremism is closer and more noticeable in the everyday lives of many people. This is the worrying conclusion of the first annual report of the Mobile Counselling Service against Right-Wing Extremism,  presented in Berlin last Monday. Although democratic forces throughout the country are standing up to the ultra-right, their work is increasingly under threat. The three reasons for the normalization of right-wing attitudes identified in the report are the growth of the AfD’s success, the Corona protest movements, and the local spread of right-wing extremists through the purchase of real estate, especially in many places in East Germany. nd