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
