Compiled by Ana Ferreira

NEWS FROM GERMANY

A bad year for the AfD

In the RTL/ntv trend barometer the AfD started the later Corona year on a par with the SPD. Twelve months later, things are not yet better for the Social Democrats, but they look much worse for the right-wing alternative. No other party has lost so much support in the polls over the year: AfD lost five percentage points. The winner of 2020 is clearly the CDU/CSU – although it was unable to maintain the 40% approval rating from the early summer (currently, with 36%). Die Linke and FDP each slipped by one percentage point compared to early 2020. Source: ntv

No significant reform of Hartz IV before the election

The SPD announced it wants to “leave Hartz IV behind.” However, SPD Minister Hubertus Heil has only just presented a draft bill for the reform of basic social security benefits. In essence, the draft is neither about abolishing the cuts in the funds nor about a significant increase in the standard rates. But benefit recipients are to be shown more appreciation. The CDU has already objected to all this. This means that there will probably be no fundamental reorientation of Hartz IV before the federal elections at the end of September. Source: nd

Job centre pays too little for rent

Those who receive Hartz IV benefits are entitled to have their accommodation and heating costs paid for in addition to the standard rate. However, only an “appropriate” amount is paid, and this amount is not clearly defined by law. A woman from Eschwege sued a job centre in 2016 once she had to pay around 375 euros a month for her rent, while it paid her monthly housing costs of 274 euros. Peter Menges, vice-chairman of the unemployed initiative Owei, believes that such judgements will mean a great financial relief for many more welfare recipients. Source: nd

it is time for “Zero Covid”

“Zero Covid”, an initiative of scientists, authors and health workers, demand a “radical change of strategy” and an immediate lockdown in all areas of the economy throughout Europe. “We don’t need a controlled continuation of the pandemic, but an end to it,” says the appeal by the group around philosopher and author Bini Adamczak. The measures are considered to be “(…) based on social solidarity”. For the subsequent loss of wages, the initiative wants a comprehensive rescue package to be passed that guarantees compensation and continued payments. The money for such an intervention is available, the initiative argues. Source: taz

NEWS FROM BERLIN

Riot police attack Luxemburg-Liebknecht demo

About 3,000 people took part in the traditional Luxemburg-Liebknecht (LL) demonstration in Berlin last Sunday. Even before the demonstration could start moving, the riot police attacked. A number of video sequences published on the internet show the officers beating up the demonstrators. Police also used pepper spray. There were a number of arrests and detentions, as well as injuries. Even minors and a wheelchair user were allegedly attacked by the officers. On Twitter, the press office of the Berlin police justified the action by saying some participants wore “forbidden FDJ symbols” and refused to take them off. Source: jW

COVID in Berlin leads to 15km travel restriction

Berlin is set to join other parts of Germany in implementing a 15-kilometer travel restriction for those who live here. Starting on next Saturday, residents will be prohibited from travelling more than 15km beyond the capital limits, based on the pandemic incidence rate. In general, the 15km boundary gets triggered each time a district sees more than 200 new infections per 100,000 people within seven days. Germany’s stricter shutdown, which was extended from January 10 until at least the end of January, requires a valid reason to leave home. Other countries, such as France, restrict people to within one kilometer of their homes. Source: dw

Compiled by Ana Ferreira

NEWS FROM GERMANY

NPD member on bargain hunt

Kay Nerstheimer (NPD) has not attracted much attention in the House of Representatives in the past four years. He asked a few crude questions, but otherwise sat quietly in the farthest corner of the parliament with the other factionless members and stared into his laptop. Maybe he was there in order to do online shopping. The NPD MP apparently spends a lot of time doing that. Under his real name “Nerstheimer” he ordered numerous articles and wrote dozens of opinionated product reviews on Amazon. His shop list suggests Nerstheimer might own weapons. Source: taz

Kurdish books seized because of the cover

Customs at Düsseldorf airport have confiscated the complete Arabic-language edition of a scholarly book on Abdullah Ocalan and the Kurdish issue. Since 13 October, 500 copies of the book “Your Freedom and Mine: Abdullah Öcalan and the Kurdish Question in Erdogan’s Turkey” have been confiscated. This happened because of its cover, which features the image of the Kurdish freedom movement’s mastermind Abdullah Öcalan. Criminal proceedings were also initiated against the recipient. However, neither Öcalan’s works nor writings that deal academically with his ideas are banned in Germany. Source: jW

Next attack on the pension

Time and again, representatives of employers’ associations in particular, but also politicians and experts, call for raising the so-called standard retirement age. The age limit has been raised in monthly steps since 2012. This is rejected by trade unions, which have already protested against the pension at 67. DGB executive member Anja Piel called such demands unacceptable and warned against it. “Already today, many workers leave the labour force prematurely due to illness and have to accept considerable pension reductions,” Piel explained. Also, Hans-Jürgen Urban, member of the IG Metall executive board, considers that those who demand longer working lives must also improve working conditions. Source: nd

Real estate industry donates to the CDU

In December, business associations and individuals donated large sums to political parties. The CDU collected the most money this way, a total of 1.1 million euros in 2020 – more than twice as much as in the previous year. Other parties such as the CSU also received large donations. However, transparency in party donations remains poor in Germany. Parties only have to report individual donations over 50,000 euros immediately to the president of the Bundestag, who publishes the details “promptly”. Transparency Deutschland recently called for lower publication thresholds and a cap on party donations, stricter rules on sponsorship, and the timely publication of accountability reports. Source: nd

Ruling Coalition refuses to accept refugees

The German government considers it is doing enough for refugees stuck in Bosnian camps. However, according to the Federal Ministry of the Interior, there are no plans to bring migrants without shelter from there to Germany. About a week ago, the Lipa camp in the border area with Croatia burnt down and a relocation of the people to an old barracks failed. The EU said it would provide another 3.5 million euros to the Balkan state to better house refugees. SPD politicians showed themselves open to taking over protection seekers. Representatives of the CDU/CSU rejected these ideas. Source: nd

AfD parliamentarians regularly disrupt the Bundestag

German lawmakers were disciplined more times in the current parliamentary session than in the previous four combined. Debates in the Bundestag had usually a reputation for being a bit boring, but this has slightly changed with the arrival of the AfD party. According to the Augsburger Allgemeine, most of reprimands in the Bundestag were directed towards members of the populist party. A major cause for disturbance in 2020 has been the failure to wear a mask while coming in the parliamentary hall. However, it was not just the AfD who needed to be reminded about Corona measures, but also members from the SPD and CDU. Source: dw

NEWS FROM BERLIN

Berlin schools massively resist planned partial opening

Berlin school classes are to partially return to face-to-face teaching as early as January – this is meeting widespread resistance. Criticism comes from pupils, parents and the teachers’ union. According to the Senate’s decision, the relevant classes for the final examinations will then be re-taught in schools with half the number of students. One week later, attendance classes will also be held in primary schools on an hourly basis. A complete return to face-to-face teaching is planned for mid-February. But there are general complaints of lack of proper planning. Furthermore, digitalisation in Berlin’s schools must also be tackled as quickly as possible. Source: rbb

Compiled by Ana Ferreira

NEWS FROM GERMANY

Vaccination start and demo cancellations

The vaccination marathon has begun. After the release of the vaccine by Biontech and Pfizer last Wednesday, 4.1 million doses will be administered through vaccination centres and mobile vaccination teams. Federal Interior Minister Horst Seehofer (CSU) said there would be no special rights for vaccinated persons. Meanwhile, “Querdenken” initiator Michael Ballweg posted in Youtube to “accept the ban on demonstrations in Berlin and called on people not to travel to Berlin on 30 December, 31 December and 1 January”. He said he would not register any more demonstrations until spring. Source: nd

Politicians volunteer in the hospital

Kathrin Dannenberg, head of Brandenburg’s left-wing parliamentary group and resident of Calau in the Oberspreewald-Lausitz district, is volunteering in a hospital, relieving the nursing staff. Already during the first wave of the Corona pandemic in spring, the state chairperson Anja Mayer worked at the Catholic St. Josefs Hospital in Potsdam. Things eased up in the summer, but when the second wave of the pandemic hit in the autumn, the hospital asked Mayer if she would come back if the situation would worsen. Mayer is back to St. Josefs. Source: nd

Deportations to Syria from January

The Federal Interior Minister Horst Seehofer (CSU) wants to enforce deportations to Syria in 2021. “It has been discussed with the president of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees that from the 1st of January in 2021 we will carefully examine each case and try to make deportation possible.” Seehofer also mentioned that someone could “get away with anything in Germany – from shoplifting to manslaughter. In any case, you never have to expect to be deported.” The general stop on deportations of Syrians to their homeland expires at the end of the year; federal and state interior ministers could not agree on an extension. Source: jW

German Commissioner for Human Rights expresses concerns for Julian Assange

The German government’s Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Aid, Bärbel Kofler, unexpectedly took a stand on the extradition proceedings of Australian journalist Julian Assange in a statement, mentioning she follows with concern the extradition proceedings in the UK against Wikileaks founder Julian Assange. So far, the Germgovernment always reaffirmed its trust in the British legal system. The verdict has been announced for next Monday. Kofler reminded that the UK is bound by the European Convention on Human Rights, also with regard to the possible sentence and conditions of detention. Source: nd

No apology to victims of false accusations

On Tuesday, a guest article by the Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia appeared in the “Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger,” where Armin Laschet (CDU) asked the victims of the often sexualised assaults on New Year’s Eve in Cologne five years ago to forgive the failures of the state government and authorities. Meanwhile, there is not a word of apology in his newspaper article to dozens of people against whom unjustified investigations were initiated and who had to prove at great expense that they could not have committed the acts of which they were accused. Source: nd

FDP and CDU consider ruling with the AfD

One political scene of the past year will be remembered for a long time. After the election of Thomas Kemmerich in February, Left Party leader Susanne Hennig-Wellsow threw the bouquet of flowers at his feet. Next year, the question of how the FDP and especially the CDU want to deal with the radical right-wing party will probably play a central role again. New elections will be held in Thuringia in April and a new state parliament will also be elected in Saxony-Anhalt, but in June. Then it will become clearer whether the currents in the CDU that are in favour of a rapprochement with the AfD will prevail. Source: nd

Class divide and the pandemic

The class divide has deepened in 2020. An example from overseas, where Amazon founder Jeffrey Bezos and Tesla boss Elon Musk come from: the 650 gigantic rich in the United States collectively own more than four trillion US dollars. In Germany, the loss of revenue through tax loopholes does not prevent state budgets from cushioning large corporations like Lufthansa and Deutsche Bahn with crisis aid worth billions. In Berlin, under the slogan “FCK 2020. For a better tomorrow!”, around a thousand demonstrators marched on Wednesday. The motive is clear: the rich should pay for the crisis. After all, there’s enough money – just distributed in the wrong way. Source; jW

NEWS FROM BERLIN

Arrests in Neukölln after Nazi terror series

After years of unsuccessful investigations, Berlin police executed two arrest warrants in connection with the right-wing terror series in Neukölln. Former NPD cadre Sebastian T. and ex-AfD executive Tilo P. are probably accused of the arson attacks on the cars of Neukölln left-wing political activist Ferat Kocak and bookseller Heinz Ostermann in February 2018. Those arrested have been considered prime suspects for some time. It is unclear what happened to the third main suspect Julian B. Likewise, whether there is any new evidence against the two right-wing extremists. Since 2016, 72 right-wing attacks have been committed in Neukölln, including 23 arsons. Source: nd

Schools in Berlin to remain closed until 17 January

On 5 January, the Minister President of the States will discuss Corona measures with the Chancellor. But no one expects that the end of the lockdown, which actually applies until 11 January, will be decided then. For Berlin’s schools, the senator Sandra Scheeres (SPD) has now made it clear that homeschooling will last at least one week longer. Whether the emergency provision of day-care centres will continue beyond 11 January will also be decided at this meeting. Berlin, together with Hamburg, have already decided before the Conference of Education Ministers on 4 January to maintain the lockdown at schools for the time being. Source: Berliner Zeitung

Compiled by Ana Ferreira

NEWS FROM GERMANY

Right-wing arsonist addresses “Querdenker” rally in Frankfurt (Oder)

Hundreds of opponents of the corona measures from Germany and Poland demonstrated in Frankfurt (Oder). Many did not wear masks. The crowd chanted they were by no means right-wing extremists. However, the demonstration was held with people like Maik Schneider who has been twice sentenced by the Potsdam Regional Court for an arson attack on a Nauen gymnasium, which was supposed to serve as refugee accommodation. Also, according to René Wilke (die LINKE), the demonstration did not stand for the city society at all. “It was clearly largely people from outside the city.” Source: ,rbb

No Advent break for “Danni” protestors

Activists in the Dannenröder forest danced on Sunday, with two water cannons threatening them from behind the police barrier. When protesters tried to break through the barrier in order to prevent the tree houses from being cleared, an aggressive scuffle ensued, as can be seen on videos on the Internet. Hesse’s Green Minister of Transport Tarek Al-Wazir says that all legal possibilities concerning the Dannenröder have been exhausted. Only the federal government can now stop the project. The environmental association BUND objects and demands a plan amendment procedure. The Greens have been criticised nationwide because of the “Danni”. Source: ,taz

Germany bans ‘Sturmbrigade 44’ Nazis

German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer banned the extremist group “Sturmbrigade 44.” The announcement came after a series of police raids against group members. This allows officials to confiscate propaganda material, with the aim of collecting evidence on right-wing extremist structures. Raids on the properties of 13 group members took place on last Tuesday morning in Hesse, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and North Rhine-Westphalia. The group has existed since 2016 and operates as a fixed structure. Its goal, supposed to be achieved even by force, was the “revival of a free fatherland” according to “Germanic moral law.” Source: ,dw

Intelligence Officer investigated for sympathies in Reich’s citizens’ movement

The Ministry of Defence announced on Tuesday evening that eight Bundeswehr employees in Ulm are under investigation. The reason for this is their sympathies for the Reich’s citizens’ movement. According to information of the “Spiegel”, among the suspects there is also an employee, who is said to have worked for the Federal Intelligence Service BND, and who still has many contacts there. There is also the suspicion of a network. According to SWR and ARD capital city studios, security circles confirmed the man considered the main suspect attempted suicide with a firearm on Wednesday morning and died later in hospital. Source: ,nd

Government declares war on racism and right-wing extremism

The Federal Cabinet has adopted a catalogue of measures against racism and right-wing extremism in Germany. The package contains 89 points, among them an amendment to the Basic Law. It also provides a study on everyday racism in civil society, businesses and public institutions and a research project to examine everyday police life. A council of experts is to advise the Federal Government on questions of integration, participation and in the fight against racism. Changes are also planned for criminal law: so-called enemy lists will in the future be just as punishable as anti-Semitic or racist incitement to hatred. Source: dw

NEWS FROM BERLIN

Second wave of short-time working – 200,000 unemployed in Berlin

Currently, at least every tenth person is unemployed in Berlin. However, the number of advertisements for short-time work has risen significantly, according to the Federal Employment Agency. Labour Senator Elke Breitenbach (die Linke) hopes that an intensive use of short-time work might save many companies and businesses from the worst and save jobs too. Furthermore, in the course of efforts to fill training places, it has become apparent that the Corona crisis has further reduced companies’ willingness to provide training. For this reason, the administration has announced that personal consultations will again be offered in employment agencies. Source: nd

Warning signals from the clinics

The pandemic situation remains tense despite closures and restrictions imposed. At the weekend, the Berlin Corona traffic light jumped into red for the criterion of intensive care bed occupancy for the first time. Dilek Kalayci (SPD) commented last Monday that individual hospitals such as the DRK-Klinikum Köpenick, Vivantes Neukölln, or the Auguste-Victoria-Klinikum would no longer accept Covid patients. As further measures to contain the pandemic, the health senator mentioned the increase in protective equipment. Franziska Leschewitz (die Linke) criticised the fact that only six vaccination centres are to be set up throughout Berlin on the issue of the distribution of vaccine doses. Source: nd