NEWS FROM BERLIN
Debate on austerity plans in Berlin accompanied by protests
Thousands of employees from welfare organisations demonstrated outside the House of Representatives in Berlin on Thursday while the Senate’s austerity plans were being debated inside the building. The protest was primarily directed against the cuts in the social sector. However, the cuts in the cultural sector were also criticised. The march was organised by AWO, Caritas, Diakonie, Paritätischer Berlin, the German Trade Union Federation and the Landesjugendring. According to the organisers, around 5,000 people took part in the demonstration. The police spoke of a peaceful rally. The supplementary budget for 2025 is to be passed in the House of Representatives on 19 December. Source: rbb
A cultural nation without money for culture?
Culture is really important in Germany. But if you look at Berlin these days, where there are fierce disputes over the funding of orchestras and cinemas, among others, it is expected to see budgets shrink by up to 12%. This affects established, traditional theatres as well as the independent scene. The reason, they say, is that Berlin must save money. But a similar picture can be seen all over the country: more and more municipalities, districts and federal states are getting into financial difficulties. The federal government, an important donor, is also looking to make cuts. Source: dw
Around 7% of Berlin “Anmeldungen” done online since new service started
When local authorities in Berlin launched an online version of the city’s “Anmeldung” address registration service in mid-October, there was optimism for the digital service for the city. But nearly two months after that service launched, just 5,500 of the around 75,000 address registrations filed in that time have been completed online. Completing this important step for a resident in the German capital requires an electronic ID (eID) card, which can be either a German residence permit or an ID card from another EU country. This means the online service prevents most international newcomers in Berlin from doing this via the Web. Source: iamexpat
NEWS FROM GERMANY
Inflation strengthens extremists
According to a study by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW), parties on the left and right can expect more votes in the early general election simply because of the recent unexpectedly high inflation and difficult economic situation. In its study “Inflation Surprises and Election Outcomes”, the IfW analysed 365 elections in 18 industrialised countries between 1948 and 2023. The result: an inflation shock of 10% during a legislative period leads to a 2.8% increase in the share of votes for populist and extremist parties in the following election if wages do not follow suit. Source: taz
Members of the Bundestag founded Maccabi fan club
Maccabi Germany is the umbrella organisation for Jewish sport in the country, and, as a sign against anti-Semitism, members of the Bundestag from various parliamentary groups have founded a Maccabi fan club. “The Bundestag Maccabees”, initiative carried on by MPs Thorsten Lieb (FDP), Stephan Mayer (CSU), Omid Nouripour (Greens) and Mahmut Özdemir (SPD), want to campaign against anti-Semitism in sport. The politicians are also concerned with making Jewish sport in Germany visible and to stand up for the protection of Jewish athletes, as in the statement published by the Katholische Nachrichten-Agentur (KNA). The founding of the Bundestag Maccabees comes in the wake of the events in Amsterdam, where fans of Maccabi Tel Aviv clashed with Palestine-supporting protesters. Source: zdf
Catholic Church expands offer for queer believers
The Catholic Church in Germany is strengthening its pastoral care for queer people. It wants to open up with measures such as comprehensive commitment, specially trained pastoral and care workers. The Catholic Archdiocese of Munich-Freising in Bavaria has for instance reorganised its pastoral care for queer people since the beginning of December. Kevin Hellwig, a Munich sacristan, has concrete expectations, though. He reminds that in Catholic sexual morality, the same-sex physical love, “remains a sin.” For him, relying solely on pastoral counselling and maintaining the doctrinal guidelines is just “consolation”. Source: dw
Manuel Ostermann “Incompatible with the office”
Amnesty International has filed an official complaint against Manuel Ostermann. In a video, the police officer and deputy head of the German Police Union called for the deportation of Palestine-supporting protesters and advocated violence, according to the statement on Instagram. Ostermann’s statements would promote discrimination, racism and police violence. The 34-year-old expresses his views almost daily in his posts on social networks. On the platform “X”, he describes the terrorist threat situation as “acute and omnipresent.” “The danger comes from Islamists and politicians are still in a deep sleep. Unbelievable.” Source: Welt
