NEWS FROM BERLIN

Berlin’s housing referendum: what’s next?

Berlin is in a housing crisis, with skyrocketing rents and block-long queues for apartment viewings. In September 2021 a referendum that proposed deprivatising and returning buildings to public ownership passed with 59.1%. Since then, not so much has (apparently) happened, but on June 13 experts decided that the expropriation and socialisation of Berlin’s large housing companies were not only legal, but an appropriate action in the face of the scale of the crisis. Two members at the forefront of the campaign, Colleen Higgins and Wouter Bernhardt, talk about the likely next stages. Source: exberliner

How a highway is threatening Berlin techno clubs

When the Berlin Wall fell, underground artists and creative people settled in the abandoned factories and ruins that remained. That became the core of a cultural revolution, as a unique subculture developed. Today, however, these anarchic, self-governing cultural venues are threatened by the so-called club extinction. In addition to gentrification and COVID-19 restrictions, another threat has recently emerged: the planned and largely agreed expansion of the A100 federal highway. The affected area extends north of the Spree, in former East Berlin. Now activists are drawing public attention to the issue: from September 9 to 24, the “Spectacle on the Motorway” campaign will happen in the affected area. Source: dw

Right-wing attacks: from Neukölln to Lichtenberg

“The district is no longer the Nazi stronghold it once was,” says Michael Mallé from the Lichtenberg Association of those Persecuted by the Nazi Regime – Association of Antifascists (VVN-BdA). And yet the problem has not been solved: “Since February 2022, there have been 20 arson attacks on the basements of residential buildings and youth clubs in Neu-Hohenschönhausen,” according to Mallé. Last Sunday, on the Day of Remembrance and Warning organized by the Berlin VVN-BdA, he and other antifascists declared that the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, the judiciary and the police do too little to investigate and condemn right-wing crimes. Source: nd-aktuell

NEWS FROM GERMANY

Wagenknecht is reportedly about to found own party

According to a media report, the former parliamentary group leader of the Left Party, Sahra Wagenknecht, has decided to launch a new party. The “Bild am Sonntag” reports that the date for the announcement should be between October 8th, the day of the state elections in Hesse and Bavaria, and the end of the year. The party’s core points will include a return to “economic reason” instead of a “crazy traffic light policy” that destroys workers and drives companies out of the country. Others include “social justice”, and a “foreign policy that once again relies on diplomacy instead of arms deliveries.” Source: handelsblatt

AfD candidate leads mayoral race in Nordhausen, but runoff needed

The candidate for the right-wing populist party Alternative for Germany (AfD), Jörg Prophet, fared far better than his rivals in the first-round mayoral vote in Nordhausen, a city of around 42,000 in Thuringia. However, his 42.1% support was not enough for a victory in the first round. Prophet will therefore have to contest a runoff against the incumbent, an independent with no party affiliation named Kai Buchmann, who was second with 23.7% of the vote. Turnout for Sunday’s vote was 56.4%. Source: dw

Oranienburg Clinic offers anonymous help for rape victims

Anonymous forensics for rape victims in Brandenburg is now also possible at the Oranienburg clinic in the Oberhavel district. Health Minister Ursula Nonnemacher (Greens) said: “Every victim of sexualized violence needs medical help. Even if no evidence is desired, a doctor should always be consulted.” With emergency aid, those affected can receive medical care and – regardless of a report – have traces of the crime secured confidentially and in a court of law by trained doctors. The offer for victims of a sexual offense already exists in Brandenburg in the following cities: Cottbus, Potsdam, Frankfurt (Oder), Brandenburg an der Havel, and Neuruppin. Source: rbb24

Germany’s new heating law: what does it mean for renters?

Germany’s controversial heating law (Heizungsgesetz) sparked months of infighting within the government. Now that the law has been approved, what does it mean for renters? The Heizungsgesetz is expected to come into force on January 1, 2024. Under this new law, basically, anyone who wants to install a heating system that runs on renewables will receive a subsidy payment from the government which covers 30 percent of the installation costs. For renters, Robert Habeck (Greens) says landlords will be responsible for installation and will be able to pass on to tenants a maximum of 10 percent of the portion of the installation costs not covered by the subsidy. Source: iamexpat

NEWS FROM BERLIN

Antimilitarism and antifascism belong together

“Class struggle instead of war and rearmament” reads the large banner in front of the Brandenburg Gate. Those holding the banner are part of the demonstration against war and rearmament, where around 700 people gathered in Berlin last Saturday. Many young people are among the demonstrators, including a group from the communist organisation Rote Wende Leipzig. “We take part in anti-militarist actions because the fight against war and militarism is of central importance to our work,” explains one of the Leipzig activists. Anti-militarists have also come from Oberhausen in North Rhine-Westphalia. The party Die Linke and the Solid Left Youth are also clearly represented at the demonstration with flags and banners. Source: nd-aktuell

Last Generation: Berlin police want to intervene faster

“Arrogant hubris”. Burkard Dregger (CDU), chose severe words against the members of the Last Generation, calling for a harsh treatment of climate activists last Monday. His wish could come true. After the group announced they would “paralyze” Berlin in September, October and November, the interior administration presented their proposed counter-measures to the Berlin Senate. Vasili Franco (Greens), feared disproportionate action against the blockers. He also spoke out against the so-called ‘pain grips’, saying these violent tactics cannot be justified and should neither be used nor taught. He referred to a 2005 publication of teaching materials by the Berlin police themselves. Source: nd-aktuell

NEWS FROM GERMANY

27 climate activists in Bavaria arrested preventively

According to the group “Last Generation”, Bavarian authorities have jailed a total of 27 supporters of the group without trial or judgement. This means that the number of activists in “preventive detention” has almost doubled. They are in the prisons of Stadelheim and Memmingen and many of them were apparently taken into custody in connection with the International Motor Show IAA, which is scheduled to take place in Munich from 5 to 10 September. The Munich police confirmed that ten of them were taken into custody during a raid on Friday. Source: Zeit

CDU leader Merz wants to facilitate deportations from Germany

The number of asylum applications in Germany has risen sharply this year. CDU leader Friedrich Merz wants to counteract this with faster deportations. To do so, Merz has said that more countries should be declared “safe countries of origin”, thus allowing for more deportations. “The fundamental right to asylum has limits when it comes to considering valid reasons for asylum,” he said. “Moldova, Georgia, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria and India are countries of origin with recognition rates in the thousands. These countries must be recognized as safe countries of origin so that we can immediately return them [asylum seekers].” he added. Source: dw

Germany calls for 3-year, nationwide rent freeze

The German government is proposing to bring in a three-year, nationwide rent freeze, in the hope it will help to control the country’s housing crisis. Landlords would still be allowed to raise rents, but there would be stricter rules about the hikes. “We need a rent cap for the next three years,” deputy parliamentary group leader for the SPD Verena Hubertz said in an interview published by the magazine “das Bild”. Under such new rules, landlords could raise rents by a maximum of around 6 percent over a three-year period and indexed rental contracts, where rental costs can fluctuate depending on inflation rates, would be made illegal. Source: iamexpat

Three million unemployed: The “hidden reserve”

In these times of a shortage of skilled workers, unemployed and well qualified people, who would like to work, have come into focus. Indeed, three million unemployed people in Germany want paid work. However, these people between the ages of 15 and 74 are not available for the labour market for a variety of reasons, as reported by the Federal Statistical Office. This group of people is referred to as the “hidden reserve.” For example, some are not available for work at short notice due to having to do care work for relatives. A great part of such reserve is represented by women, with a share estimated at about 57 percent. Source: tagesschau

Söder stands by Deputy Aiwanger

At a press conference scheduled at short notice in Munich last Sunday, Bavaria’s Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) said he had thoroughly examined and weighed up the allegations made against Hubert Aiwanger (“Free Voters”), and concluded that a dismissal from office would not be proportionate. Some days ago, the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” first reported that Aiwanger had written an anti-Semitic leaflet during his time at school, citing anonymous witnesses. Nevertheless, the Bavarian Prime Minister criticised the crisis management of his deputy. Aiwanger should have clarified the allegations earlier, more decisively and more comprehensively, Söder said. A new state parliament will be elected in Bavaria on October 8th. Source: dw

NEWS FROM BERLIN

Doctors in Berlin fear again about drug shortages in winter

Many doctors in Berlin fear that medicine could become scarce again in the coming autumn and winter. In a survey conducted by the Berlin Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KV) among 430 practices, 61 percent of the doctors surveyed stated that, in their opinion, the care during the next cold wave would not be sufficient. According to the head of the Berlin KV, Burkhard Ruppert, antibiotics, blood pressure medication, fever medication and painkillers as well as asthma medication and eye drops are to be particularly scarce. The Berlin health secretary Ellen Haussdörfer (SPD) said the Senate takes the current survey “very seriously.” Source: rbb24

NEWS FROM GERMANY

Students start the new school year, but teacher shortage continues

The new school year begins for over 300,000 Brandenburg schoolchildren. There is an increase of 8,000 children and young people among them. The Ministry of Education announced last Thursday that a total of 1,380 trained educators and lateral entrants had been hired on a permanent basis. This means that around 460 full-time positions have not yet been filled. The Education Minister Steffen Freiberg (SPD) said the shortage of teachers remains an ongoing issue. A good half of the new teachers are 36 years or younger. 958 of the new teachers are women and 422 are men. Source: rbb24

Dual citizenship law passes through German cabinet

The German government voted on August 23 to pass the country’s new citizenship reforms, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) announced. It is expected that such reforms will ease the path to citizenship for non-Germans living and working in the federal republic. Faeser called the reform an “acknowledgement of a modern Germany” which is one of the “most important reform projects of the traffic-light coalition”. She also mentioned that the German government hopes the reforms would encourage long-term residents in Germany to stay and encourage new workers to come and feel welcomed. The bill is likely to be voted in the German Bundestag at the beginning of September. Source: iamexpat

German economy heading for recession

The German economy appears to be headed for a recession. The purchasing managers’ index for the entire private sector – i.e. industry and service providers – fell to 44.7 points from 48.5 points in July, the financial services provider S&P Global announced last Wednesday in its monthly survey of around 800 companies. It was the fourth decline in a row and the lowest value since May 2020, when the corona pandemic kept the economy stagnant. The service sector was decisive for the rapid decline. The service industry barometer fell below the growth threshold – to 47.3 points after 52.3 points in July. Source: faz

“Last generation”: Munich issues a partial ban

A general decree by the city of Munich on “preventive defense against danger” will prohibit future climate protests that take place on the routes used by emergency and rescue vehicles. This was announced by the city administration. Accordingly, protests that are not reported to the district administration department and in which participants stick to the road are prohibited. Violations can result in a fine of up to 3,000 euros. The reason for the decision: during climate protests last Friday in Munich, two emergency vehicles got stuck in the traffic jam caused by blockade actions. Source: br

Legalising weed in Germany

It’s finally happening. After years of discussion, Germany is moving forward with some sort of legalisation of cannabis. The government plans to have the new legislation by early 2024. Nevertheless, smoking in the presence of minors, or close to schools or playgrounds will not be allowed, among other prohibitions. Exberliner points out that the black market might go on being a reality. For instance, the USA has legalised weed to an even greater extent than Germany, but the black market there still represents 75% of sales. On the other hand, in Canada, where restrictions are especially light, only 4% of pot smokers acquire their weed from illegal sources. Source: exberliner

Bürgergeld raise

The standard rates of the citizens’ income (Bürgergeld) will increase on 1 January 2024, as announced by Federal Labour Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD). The monthly amount for a single adult will increase from 502 to 563 euros. According to Heil, the increase in the standard rates is due to the fact that, with the introduction of the citizens’ income, the calculation method was changed in such a way inflation is taken into account as well as to ensure participation in social life. The citizens’ income replaced Hartz IV benefits at the beginning of the year. Source: taz

Rammstein singer’s sexual assault probe dropped

Germany has dropped investigations against Rammstein singer Till Lindemann, the Berlin state prosecutor’s office said in a statement last Tuesday. Prosecutors considered initial investigations “did not provide any evidence” of the claims and said as well that law enforcement agencies have yet to receive testimony from any alleged victims of Lindemann’s conduct, meaning that investigators were not able to substantiate the allegations. Regarding Shelby Lynn, a fan who said she suspected that her drink was spiked with a drug at a band’s party in Vilnius, Berlin prosecutors affirmed her testimony remained too “vague.” Source: dw

NEWS FROM BERLIN

Tempelhofer Feld: “development ideas competition” launched

In 2014, Berlin held a referendum which ruled out any building on the airport turned public park Tempelhofer Feld. However, with a CDU-led government backed by powerful real estate developers and a housing crisis, one of the biggest and most-visited urban parks in Europe looks to be in danger yet again. The CDU and SPD have recently announced they would like to “explore the possibilities of cautious peripheral development in limited parts of the area with an international urban planning competition.” Architects will be invited to pitch building plans at the edges of the Field. Due to the last referendum, it is expected that the Berlin people would have to be consulted somehow if any plans were to go ahead. Source: exberliner

NEWS FROM GERMANY

Hundreds at right-wing demo in a small town in Saxony

Hundreds of people met in Sebnitz last Monday for a right-wing demonstration promoted by the micro-party “Freie Sachsen” (Free Saxony). Around 450 people protested with posters with Islamaphobic messages as well as demands to stop asylum seekers and anti-Green party messages. At the same time, at a local church (Peter-Pauls-Kirche) a prayer for peace was held. Just a few weeks earlier, there was quite a brutal attack at a refugee home. Four masked strangers entered the house, shouting xenophobic slogans. An 18-year-old Afghani man was injured after violent attacks and objects being thrown at him and another younger person. The attackers fled when other residents had arrived. Source: t-online

A right-wing country

The quantity of right-wing extremist demonstrations has tripled this year compared to the same period in 2022. This comes out from the response of the Federal Ministry of the Interior to inquiries made from the party die Linke in the Bundestag. In the first half of last year, 35 right-wing marches were held nationwide. For the same time period in 2023, there were already 110. The majority of the demonstrations happened against the admission of refugees, said the Bundestag Vice President Petra Pau (die Linke), when considering about the figures. Source: nd-aktuell

Germany’s climate effort is not enough

A body of experts on Tuesday has said in its policy review that Germany’s proposals seem to be insufficient for the mitigation of climate change. The council said that even if the program was to be fully implemented, there would still be a larger gap than the one claimed by the German government. The group added that the 130 measures did not amount to a cohesive overall plan. Germany has pledged to reduce its greenhouse emissions to 65% of those registered in 1990 by the year 2030, which would amount to total emissions of 440 million tons. Last year, greenhouse gas emissions were at 746 million tons. Source: dw

Update: Germany’s €49 ticket

As of August 15, 2023, new rules for the Deutschlandticket have come into effect. Specifically, those rules which affect what one is entitled to in case a regional train is delayed. It is only now possible to switch to a high-speed train under very specific circumstances. The rule change also exempts Deutsche Bahn from refunding its clients whenever there are delays due to extreme weather conditions, a more and more frequent phenomenon. In previous months, the German train company has had a far from less than perfect track record when it comes to punctuality. It therefore seems like these new rules could represent an `escape clause’. The German Consumer Association is challenging the changes. Source: Exberliner

Court rejects an injunction against Shelby Lynn

In May, Lynn made her experiences at a Rammstein concert public. Lindemann took legal action against it – but his case was rejected on August 15. Previously, Lindemann’s lawyers had obtained several successful preliminary injunctions from the Hamburg Regional Court, which, according to experience, applies strict standards to the reporting of suspicions. Most recently, these included injunctions against the influencer Kayla Shyx and against the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” and the “NDR”. It was only last week that it emerged that the law firm failed to attain a full injunction. An attempt had been made to have certain formulations in a petition against Berlin concerts by the band “Rammstein” banned, but without success. Source: tagesspiel

Germany plans for migration agreements with 6 more countries

The German government has announced its plans to immigration agreements with six new countries (Georgia, Moldova, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kenya and Morocco), in order to plug the nationwide worker shortage. The agreements would be introduced in addition to Germany’s new immigration laws, which will see a points-based immigration system that intend to make it easier for non-EU nationals to look for long-term employment. Economist Monika Schnitzer claims the country should consider welcoming 1,5 million new migrants each year so that public services and businesses have enough staff to meet the needs of the population. Source: iamexpat

German meat production on a sustained decline

The figures are in for the first half of 2023: compared to the same period of 2022, production in Germany has dropped by more than 5 percent. Meat production has been on the decline across the country since 2017. The report published by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) has shown that the amount of meat that commercial slaughterhouses in Germany produced in the first half of 2023 dropped to 3,3 million tons (5,9 percent). In this context “produced” means when the animals were both raised and slaughtered within Germany. Despite the decline, animals bred in the German meat production industry are still slaughtered on a very large scale in 2023. Source: iamexpat

NEWS FROM BERLIN

Private security service tries to clear residential buildings in Berlin-Mitte

Last Wednesday, security guards allegedly commissioned by the real estate agency Arcadia Estates pushed residents of a building in Berlin-Mitte out of their apartments. They then prevented some of the residents from re-entering the house on Habersaathstrasse. Around 20 left-wing activists gathered in front of the building, in which formerly homeless people also live free of charge. The incident was preceded by a legal dispute between the apartment owner and residents. According to resident Daniel Diekmann, a letter was placed in front of the apartment doors around 9 a.m., signed by “Arcadia Estates Habersaathstraße 40-48 GmbH”, but without the sender’s address and signature. Source: tagesspiegel

Arson attack on commemorative book box in Grunewald

An unknown person torched the memorial book box not far from the Holocaust memorial in Grunewald. The hundreds of books in it were thematically related to the nearby “Gleis 17” memorial, which remembers the deportation of tens of thousands of Jewish people to concentration and labor camps by the National Socialists. According to two witnesses, a man set the box on fire at around 5 a.m. last Saturday morning. The State Protection police force took over the investigation. The fire brigade was only able to extinguish the fire, but not save the valuable memorabilia in the box. Source: taz

Attack on memorial to homosexual victims of the Nazi

The memorial to homosexuals persecuted by the Nazis in Berlin was attacked. The crime was committed on Saturday in the early hours of the morning, a spokesman for the police situation center said. State Protection took over the investigation. The Lesbian and Gay Federation Berlin-Brandenburg had previously reported an arson attack on the monument. According to police information, the perpetrator attached two slips of paper with a modified quotation from the Bible denigrating homosexuals to the memorial near the corner of Ebert-/Hannah-Arendt-Straße. In addition, the perpetrator tried to throw a burning object at the monument but failed. Source: jW

Wolt: migrants in precarious employment

Couriers from the Wolt delivery service in Berlin have been rebelling against exploitative working conditions since last spring. The “ReWolt” campaign reached its climax at the end of July: the lawsuit of three couriers who accused the company of withholding their wages was heard before a Berlin court. They also demand more safety at work, insurance against accidents at work, an end to the subcontractor system, and continued payment of wages in the event of illness. Riders from other companies such as Gorillas demonstrate solidarity in the joint struggle with the unions from the same industry (Food-Genuss-Gaststätten – NGG, ver.di, and others). Source: qantara

2,550 euros gross: strike in the Berlin-Brandenburg wholesale trade

Around 200 pharmaceutical wholesalers in Berlin and Brandenburg went on strike on Monday. This was announced by ver.di’s negotiator, Franziska Foullong. The union is demanding 13 percent higher wages, but at least 400 euros more, and an increase in training pay. The union had called on the employees of Phoenix-Pharmahandel Berlin, Sanacrop Potsdam and two Alliance Healthcare Berlin locations to go on strike. According to Foullong, around half of the approximately 450 employees of the four companies took part. In view of the inflation, ver.di demands an adjustment to the expired collective agreement in order to compensate for the loss in real wages. Source: nd-aktuell

NEWS FROM GERMANY

Dachau: how concentration camp survivors look at the AfD

Ernst Grube, 90, is dismayed. “It’s incomprehensible to me,” says the Shoah survivor and president of the Dachau camp community. According to a survey by Infratest Dimap, AfD would currently get 21 percent in a federal election, being then the second strongest party after the CDU/CSU (27 percent) in parliament. The Comité International de Dachau (CID) is also concerned about the situation. CID President, Domenique Boueilh, warns that it targets the spirit of Europe. The political and civil forces that have invested for 80 years in building a free world, respecting the values they would have inherited from the victory over Nazism, must mobilize and unite. Source: sueddeutsche

CSD in Weißenfels disrupted by suspected neo-Nazis

Suspected right-wing extremists disrupted the Christopher Street Day (CSD) in the town of Weißenfels (Saxony-Anhalt). According to the police in Halle, officers identified 23 participants causing a disruption during the event last Saturday and therefore filed charges. According to the organizers and police, the neo-Nazi and right-wing extremist party Der Dritte Weg (The Third Way) had already made threats against the demonstration in the run-up to the CSD. Prior to the event, there had been hate messages on the internet. The Left Party referred to “problems” and criticized the police for lack of preparation in dealing with the “right-wing extremist threat situation.” Source: dw