NEWS FROM BERLIN
Nan Goldin opens exhibition with accusations against Israel and Germany
The artist Nan Goldin at the opening of her show at “Neue Nationalgalerie” began her speech with “This will not end well”, asking for a minute’s silence for the victims in Gaza, Israel and Lebanon. In front of dozens of pro-Palestinian activists, the Jewish photographer denounced Israel’s actions and Germany’s attitude in the Middle East conflict. An attempt at a ‘counter-speech’ by the director of the Neue Nationalgalerie, Klaus Biesenbach, was shouted down by chants. “I have decided to use this exhibition as a platform to express my moral outrage at the genocide in Gaza and Lebanon,” Goldin affirmed. Source: Spiegel
Rents in Berlin have risen the most in Germany
Prices for new lettings have risen more sharply in Berlin than in any other major German city. This is according to a response from the federal government to a request from MP Caren Lay (Die Linke”). The price per square metre for a newly rented flat in Berlin has doubled in ten years: from an average of €8.10 in 2014 to €16.35 in 2023. The federal government points out that the data is not representative: Low-priced flats, for example, tend to be brokered via notices or estate agents and therefore do not appear in the statistics. Lay nevertheless criticises the fact that the rent freeze introduced in 2015 has been ineffective. Source: rbb
Berlin Senate reaches agreement in dispute over payment card for refugees
After months of wrangling, Berlin’s governing parties (CDU and SPD) have agreed on a solution to the issues surrounding payment card for refugees. The cash limit is now 50 euros per month, for adults and children. After six months, the cash limit will be automatically removed. However, it is not yet clear when the payment card will be introduced in Berlin. The payment card is valid throughout Germany and should not include any restrictions such as online purchases. The Integration Senator Cansel Kiziltepe (SPD) told rbb that the payment card is not an instrument to control migration. Source: rbb
The Berlin Senate’s savings list
The Berlin Senate wants to save three billion euros – from the around 40 billion euro’s city budget. The ruling parties, CDU and SPD, announced where they want to cut spending: primarily in transport, but other areas such as culture and environment are also subject to cuts. With this cut, the 29-euro ticket for public transport, which has only been in circulation since July, will be completely cancelled again, but probably not until 2025. The ruling coalition parties agree in principle that an improvement in revenue is also necessary to close the gap in Berlin’s budget. Source: rbb
NEWS FROM GERMANY
VW: German union demands a deal before Christmas
IG Metall and the Volkswagen (VW) workers’ council are calling for VW to strike a deal with workers before Christmas. VW is Europe’s largest car manufacturer and has threatened plant closures and layoffs in a bid to reduce labor costs. IG Metall’s chief negotiator, Thorsten Gröger, accused VW management of wasting time in discussions so far. The chairwoman of the company’s workers’ council, Daniela Cavallo, described the threat of mass layoffs and plant closures as “maximum provocation”. A mandated moratorium on industrial action during initial talks is due to expire at the end of November, meaning that warning strikes are possible starting from December 1. Source: dw
Inveterate Holocaust denier Haverbeck dies at 96
Ursula Haverbeck, a notorious Holocaust denier, has died at the age of 96. She previously served two years in prison for Holocaust denial and was appealing another prison sentence of a year and four months handed down by the court in Hamburg when her she passed away. Among her repeated claims, made on television and in courts, was that the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp was not an extermination camp. German government records show that at least 1.1 million people were murdered there alone. Her comments made her a favorite with far-right extremists. Source: dw
What do Germany’s hospital reforms mean for patients?
Germany’s hospital reform will become law on January 1, 2025. Under these reforms, the government will reorganise how federal funding is distributed to hospitals to improve treatments and reduce financial pressure on clinics. The changes will be gradually implemented in Germany’s 1,700 hospitals until 2029. Clinics will not be financed based on the number of patients they treat but on the number of services offered, such as staff numbers, emergency services or specific medical equipment available on site. It is expected that the new law will also spell hospital closures, but Karl Lauterbach (SPD) affirms these closures will be in areas where hospitals are “overabundant”. Source: i am expat
