News from Berlin
Fear of “Red Berlin”
On July 2, Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) announced the results of the coalition committee meeting, dropping a political bombshell. Alongside compromises regarding labor market regulation and an increase in the “tax on the wealthy,” it was stated that “the nationalization of private rental housing stocks via state-level socialization laws is no longer permissible.” Using the pretext of protecting private housing construction, the federal government is actively intervening in Berlin’s state election campaign and seeking to ban Die Linke’s flagship project in the capital. Source: nd
Die Linke leads Berlin election poll
With just under three months to go before the Berlin House of Representatives election, Die Linke can harbor hopes of an election victory. If the vote were held at the end of June, the party would secure 20% of the vote, according to the Berlin-Trend poll by broadcaster rbb. The Greens would emerge as the second-strongest force (19%), followed by the AfD (18%). Compared to the April poll, Die Linke has gained 2%. For the poll, a total of 1,162 people were surveyed between June 25 and 29. A new House of Representatives is set to be elected in Berlin on September 20. Source: ntv
News from Germany
AfD Party Conference: Weidel consolidates her power
At its federal party conference, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) reaffirmed its ambition to govern Germany. The re-elected co-chair Alice Weidel declared: “We are the strongest force. We are a 30% ‘people’s party.’ And we will govern.” The AfD is a particular thorn in the side of Germany’s domestic intelligence agency—the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution—and its corresponding state-level counterparts. The party conference was accompanied by largely peaceful protests: tens of thousands of people demonstrated against the AfD in Thuringia. At a rally in Erfurt, Jens-Christian Wagner, head of the memorial at the former Buchenwald concentration camp, declared: “Remigrate yourselves into the history books!” Source: dw
Weidel gives Wagenknecht the cold shoulder
AfD leader Alice Weidel wants nothing to do with joint campaign appearances alongside BSW founder Sahra Wagenknecht. The AfD views “this initiative positively in principle, precisely because we both advocate for diplomacy and an immediate end to the war in Ukraine,” Weidel’s personal spokesperson told the taz on July 1. Ultimately, however, “every party campaigning for votes is responsible for its own campaign.” The BSW leadership had previously proposed a total of four public debates between Weidel and Wagenknecht prior to the upcoming elections in Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. In both states, the AfD is clearly leading in the polls. Source: taz
Federal budget: drones for the people
Almost one in three federal euros is going toward drones, tanks, and fighter jets. To fund this, the Finance Minister is cutting social spending. Lars Klingbeil (SPD) justifies the higher level of national debt by citing the consequences of the war involving Iran. The logical conclusion, it seems, is to invest another 607 billion euros in defense over the next four years. This requires the state—following Klingbeil’s logic—to make cuts elsewhere. Consequently, areas such as housing benefits, the healthcare sector and the Climate and Transformation Fund are suffering cuts. Development organizations protested on July 6 against further austerity measures outside the Chancellery in Berlin. Source: nd
Global Peace Index: populism and militarisation see Germany drop down
Against the backdrop of war and global uncertainty, Germany has slipped in the ranking of the world’s most peaceful countries. The country has been ranked 28th in the Global Peace Index (GPI) 2026 by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), moving down five spots from 2025. According to the IEP, Germany’s decline in the ranking was driven by the “societal safety and security” category, which considers, among other factors, perceptions of criminality, violent demonstrations, and the homicide rate. The report also cited the rise of the far-right populist AfD as a reason for Germany’s decline in the ranking. According to the 2026 index, “global peace is at its lowest level since [the GPI’s] inception” in 2007. Source: iamexpat
SPD and CDU plan to abolish the Freedom of Information Act (IFG)
When getting into power, the coalition agreement between the SPD and CDU was clearly for transparency and public oversight. It is now mounting the greatest assault on government transparency in the history of the Federal Republic. For instance, the new coalition agreement will require requests for information to present “legitimate interests.” Organizations such as FragDenStaat and Amnesty International will not be allowed to make a request of information, as only private individuals, who have to be EU citizens, would be entitled to do so. Currently, the IFG enables anyone to access government documents and thereby scrutinize the actions of public authorities and the government. Source: fragdenstaat
Tensions flare at Mercedes-Benz
Tens of thousands of workers from the industry of metals intend to defend the 35-hour workweek at Mercedes-Benz. According to the union IG Metall, more than 33,000 employees gathered outside factory gates across the country on July 3. They resist management plans to increase working hours to 40 per week without extra pay and to postpone a special payment of 18.4% (currently due) until next year. The union and works council organized further rallies during the Mercedes early shift in the south of Germany. There were also actions and protests in the north, and, not least, in Berlin. Source: jw
