NEWS FROM BERLIN

Deutsche Wohnen & Co welcomes SPD grassroots push for a quick implementation of referendum

The SPD district associations of Mitte and Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg have made public a motion for the state party conference in which they demand the implementation of the referendum within one year. The Intiative Deutsche Wohnen & Co Enteignen welcomes the SPD base’s push for a quick implementation of the referendum. If Franziska Giffey continues to delay the clear work order to expropriate Deutsche Wohnen and Co, she is not only going against almost 60 percent of the voters – but also against her own party base,” says Carmel Fuhg, spokesperson for the initiative. Source: DWE

S-Bahn privatisation may be not possible

At the special party conference of Berlin’s Left Party a fortnight ago, at which it was decided to (re)start the current coalition, the Left Party (“die Linke”) parliamentary group leader in the House of Representatives, Carsten Schatz, remarked: “We have agreed on the municipalisation of the S-Bahn.” However, there was no mention of this in the exploratory paper agreed between the three parties for the continuation of the “Red-Red-Green” government. Also, there is much to suggest that in the end DB, in the form of its subsidiary S-Bahn Berlin GmbH, will continue to be the sole operator of the entire network after 2027. Source: jW

NEWS FROM GERMANY

“die Linke” demands 200 euros for those at risk of poverty

Against the background of increased consumer and energy prices, the Left Party (“die Linke”) is proposing a one-time payment of 200 euros for poorer people. “We have to react if we want people not to freeze in winter,” said party leader Susanne Hennig-Wellsow in Berlin. According to the Left Party leaders, the 200 euros should be paid out on 1 December to about 13 million people at risk of poverty. The one-off payment would at the same time act as an economic stimulus package. In addition to the one-off payment, the proposal also includes an immediate increase of Hartz IV at the rate of inflation. Source: Berliner Zeitung

Former head of the LKA supports a study on racism in the police force

Sabine Thurau, retired president of the Hessian State Criminal Police Office (LKA), has called for a study on the prevalence of right-wing extremism and misogyny in the police. “Such a study can be very helpful, even vital, not only for society but also for the police themselves,” she said. For Thurau, the police is still a “very well-functioning organisation”, but she also notes “a deeply worrying, critical development”. Thurau retired when she reached the age limit on 31 March. Her term of office included, among others, the search for the author of the right-wing extremist “NSU 2.0” threatening letters. Source; islamiq

Far right Bessin runs as candidate for AfD chairperson in Brandenburg

The AfD member of the state parliament Birgit Bessin wants to run for the state chairmanship of her party in Brandenburg. At a press conference in Potsdam on Wednesday, the current deputy state leader announced her candidacy for the executive board election at a state party conference on 20 and 21 November in Prenzlau. She is running to succeed former state party leader Andreas Kalbitz, whose party membership was revoked first by the AfD federal executive and then by the AfD federal arbitration court last year. The 43-year-old Bessin is considered a confidante of Kalbitz and, like him, stands for the AfD’s far-right course. Source: rbb

Left challenges market model on environment

In view of rising energy prices, the Left Party (“die Linke”) parliamentary group leader Dietmar Bartsch is proposing the cancellation the next stage of the CO2 price increase. This is a 20% increase which is planned for January. Instead, he said, the future federal government should “put the entire market model to the test”. Energy prices are out of control, according to Bartsch, and the upcoming winter threatens to be particularly expensive for people. Over the weekend, CSU leader Söder has spoken out in favour of a reduced VAT rate on energy and fuel to relieve the burden on consumers. Source: deutschlandfunk

NEWS FROM BERLIN

Berlin Left Youth Association rejects cooperation with Jusos and Green Youth

The youth associations of the SPD, the Greens and the Left Party are in a huff: the Left Youth has ruled out cooperation with the other two for the time being. Lisa Madsack, state director of the Left Youth, confirmed thaz Bengt Rüstemeier was elected to the eight-member new state speaker’s council. The 22-year-old former Jusos functionary hit the headlines in last February for tweets in which he mused about whether it was possible to “shoot landlord pigs” or “shoot young liberals”. Katina Schubert, state chairperson of the Left Party, criticised this “self-isolation from other youth associations.” Source: rbb

Higher Education Act: HU president resigns in protest

As a protest against the new Higher Education Act, the president of Berlin’s Humboldt University, Sabine Kunst, has resigned from her post. In a statement, she called the Senate’s plan “well-intentioned, but badly done”. Among other things, the amendment to the law would lead to a change in the university’s personnel structures. The number of permanent academic staff will increase significantly over the next few years. “However, our current structures are not geared towards this,” said Kunst. The spokesperson for research policy of the Berlin CDU parliamentary group, Adrian Grasse, called Kunst’s resignation a “deep blow for Berlin as a science location”. Source: rbb

Visa deadline for refugees extended

The Berlin Senat is extending the visa deadline for refugees from Syria and Iraq. Those who have relatives here can come until December 2022. With the decision on the extension, Senator Andreas Geisel (SPD) follows the red-red-green coalition agreement from 2016. But, also, in recent weeks, thousands of people have entered Germany without permission via Belarus and Poland. The Federal Police registered 6,162 cases since the beginning of the year until 21 October, most recently about 500 in two days. Belarusian ruler Alexander Lukashenko is suspected of deliberately encouraging illegal migration in response to EU sanctions imposed in the spring. Source: morgenpost

Successful end to health workers’ strike

Striking employees of the Vivantes subsidiaries have won improvements. The strike is over. For six long weeks, up to 2,000 workers of the municipal hospital corporations were on strike. This follows recent victories by striking nursing staff at Charité and Vivantes hospitals. Their gains have now been applied to the employees of the Vivantes subsidiaries since Tuesday. The Verdi negotiators are keeping quiet about what exactly the agreement consists of, and how close they have come to the goal of equal treatment of the employees of the subsidiaries. Source: taz

NEWS FROM GERMANY

Neo-Nazis attack refugees in the Polish border

In Brandenburg, several dozen armed neo-Nazis near Guben apparently followed the call of the fascist party, “Der III. Weg”, for so-called border walks. The action was directed against refugees and migrants. According to the police, who are increasingly patrolling the border area to ward off refugees, about 50 neo-Nazis were apprehended on last Sunday night. Pepper spray, a bayonet, a machete and batons were seized. Investigations are also underway for the use of symbols of anti-constitutional organisations. The suspects have all been ordered to leave the border region around Guben. Some of the people apprehended came from the immediate vicinity, but many had also travelled from other federal states. Source: jW

Man must serve several years in prison after racist attack in Erfurt

After a man kicked a Syrian in an Erfurt tram, a video of the attack went viral. Now the attacker has been sentenced to a long prison term. The act of the 41-year-old German could clearly be classified as racist. The verdict is not yet final. The defence announced that it would appeal. The attacker already confessed to the crime at the beginning of the trial and apologised. The judge accepted this, but stated: “We as representatives of the judiciary are not prepared to treat such acts as trifles.” The attack in April is unfortunately by no means an isolated case in the city. Source: Zeit

NEWS FROM BERLIN

More Colonialism Issues for the Humboldt Forum

The dome of the Humboldt Forum can now be visited. It is possible to read an inscription there, which does not help the Forum´s attempt of getting rid of its colonialism issues. The message: “There is salvation in no other, nor is there any other name given to men, but in the name of Jesus, to the glory of God the Father. That in the name of Jesus all the knees of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth should bow.” ource: ta

Berlin SPD leaders in favour of coalition negotiations with Greens and Left Party

The Berlin SPD has cleared the way for coalition negotiations with Bündnis 90/die Grünen and die LINKE. Three weeks after the election to the Berlin House of Representatives, its state executive voted unanimously on Monday evening to start talks with the two parties. These parties have already been governing in Berlin in a three-party alliance since 2016. Assuming the approval of the other party bodies, coalition negotiations on the continuation of government cooperation are to begin this Friday. A total of 16 working groups are then to deal with the details of content. Source: jW

NEWS FROM GERMANY

Fighting Climate Change more popular among ordinary people than politicians

One hears the thesis all the time: unfortunately, saving the climate is not feasible, as voters would only accept climate protection in small measures. According to this reasoning, politicians are aware, but the population is unfortunately unwilling. However, surveys (such as “Forschungsgruppe Wahlen”) show that the population shows more support for climate protection than politicians. And it is hypocritical for the federal and state governments to claim they will not decide anything against the will of the people. In fact, politics often listens more to powerful lobbies than to citizens – also when it comes to climate. Source: taz

Concentration Camp secretary on trial

The former secretary Irmgard Furchner in the Stutthof concentration camp fears scorn and ridicule. That is what she wrote in a letter to the presiding judge, asking him not to have to appear at the trial in Itzehoe. But with her escape at the start of the trial at the end of September, Furchner drew even more attention to herself. She is the first civilian employee of a Nazi concentration camp to stand trial. Furchner had ensured “the smooth functioning of the camp”. Besides, the prosecutor is convinced that she was aware of the crimes at Stutthof “in part down to the last detail”. Source: Spiegel

SPD wants Bärbel Bas as Bundestag President

The SPD has proposed Bärbel Bas to succeed Wolfgang Schäuble as president of the Bundestag. The health politician would be the third woman to hold the second highest office in the Republic. Moreover, the SPD seems to have made a sound choice for women on strategic positions. Bärbel Bas is a woman from the Ruhr region. And the 53-year-old Bas has been a member of the Bundestag since 2009 and deputy chair of the SPD parliamentary group since 2019. In the constituency of Duisburg I, she has always achieved record results for her party. Source: dw

“Traffic light” coalition closer to forming next German government

Olaf Scholz (SPD) has taken a step closer towards becoming Germany’s next chancellor, after his party announced it reached a preliminary deal with the Greens (die Grünen) and the FDP to form a new government. In an exploratory paper, these parties laid down some cornerstone pledges that they all agreed on. These include the following: not increasing taxes; raising the minimum wage to 12 euros per hour; lowering the voting age to 16; and banning new combustion engines from 2035 on. Armin Laschet (CDU) took full responsibility for his party’s poor performance and he would be stepping down from his role as state premier of North Rhine-Westphalia. Source: iamexpat

NEWS FROM BERLIN

The recounting period begins now

After Sunday’s chaotic election, the state election commissioner in Berlin has already drawn consequences and offered her resignation. Meanwhile, recounts are scheduled for several constituencies. The reason: very close or very conspicuous results. Election administrations are also on their own initiative checking whether ballot papers need to be recounted. During some deliveries to the polling stations, copies for Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf got mixed up with the ballot papers. On 14 October, the state election committee will have to make a final assessment as to whether repeat elections are necessary. Not every irregularity has an influence on the result. Source: rbb

NEWS FROM GERMANY

AfD fan kills petrol worker for asking him to wear a mask

According to information from the RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland (RND), the suspected murderer of Idar-Oberstein is 49-year-old Mario N. The perpetrator shot a 20-year-old petrol station employee in Idar-Oberstein, after the latter had repeatedly pointed out to him that masks were compulsory. On a Twitter account that was actively used until 2019, N. identified himself as a fan of the AfD. He also followed several right-wing journalists and media portals, most of which were not right-wing extremist. Police found both the suspected murder weapon and several other weapons in Mario N.’s flat. According to police, he did not legally possess any of these weapons. Source: waltroper zeitung

Germany’s election and the cultural sphere

It might take some time before Germany forms a new government, and its outcome will have strong implications for German´s cultural policy. Themes such as looted art, colonialism, representation abroad, digitalization and the pandemic, are among those to be dealt with, and each party pays more (or less) attention to them. Many parties want to optimize the “Künstlersozialkasse” — the social insurance for cultural and media professionals. Also, there is a good chance of the Federal Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM) to be upgraded to the status of a federal ministry of culture. Source: dw

Left parliamentary group in the Bundestag leaves personnel questions open

So far, Amira Mohamed Ali and Dietmar Bartsch will carry on leading the Left Party (die Linke) at the Bundestag. The party now has 39 MPs. According to Bartsch, decisions will be made by the constituent session of the new Bundestag, which is expected to be on 26 October. On the agenda of the first parliamentary party meeting was a substantive discussion on the causes of the Left’s outcome in the federal election. It was important to pull together and learn the right lessons, Mohamed Ali said. Source: nd

The difficult path to a new government

The picture of the two Green Party leaders Annalena Baerbock and Robert Habeck with FDP leader Christian Lindner and the Secretary General of the Liberals, Volker Wissing, was a sensation last Wednesday. Looking for common ground, something not feasible some years ago, they will have to find a way of dealing with themes such as climate protection, and its instruments (e.g, EU emissions trading X laws and regulations). It seems that there will be many rounds, and with not much information immediately available, as in the past – when the coalition with those two parties failed. Source: dw

Green Youth: “There is no reason for Jamaica”.

The Green Youth has given a clear rejection to a coalition of CDU, Greens and FDP. “There is no reason for Jamaica,” said the spokesperson of the independent youth organisation of the Greens, Georg Kurz. The Green Youth represents about 15,000 members and is considered much more left-wing than the party itself. In recent weeks, the Green Youth had run an independent election campaign, campaigning for a coalition with the SPD and the Left. However, the Green Youth is also skeptical about a traffic light coalition with SPD and FDP. Source: nd